Ministry of Environment Uncovers Gang Dumping 7,400 Tons of Illegal Waste... "870 Million Won in Unfair Profits"

Reference photo

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The Ministry of Environment announced on the 18th that it has apprehended a total of nine individuals, including three unauthorized waste disposal operators who illegally dumped 7,400 tons of waste in Yeongcheon and Seongju areas of Gyeongbuk Province. These perpetrators, who violated the Waste Management Act, reportedly gained approximately 870 million KRW in illicit profits.

According to the Ministry of Environment, five individuals involved in serious criminal activities were detained, while the remaining four were released on bail and all were referred to the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office in two rounds last month. Additionally, three waste disposal companies were also referred for prosecution under the joint liability provisions.

They are accused of illegally dumping 7,392 tons of waste synthetic resin and construction waste without permission from December 2018 to July 2019 at three rented warehouses and open lots in Daechang-myeon, Yeongcheon City, and one location in Yongam-myeon, Seongju County, Gyeongbuk Province.

The suspects apprehended this time violated various provisions of the Waste Management Act, including illegal dumping of business waste, operating unauthorized waste disposal businesses, violating business suspension orders, violating waste import suspension orders, and disobeying waste disposal orders, resulting in approximately 870 million KRW in illicit profits.

The Environmental and Health Crime Division of the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Han Tae-hwa) conducted additional investigations into this case and indicted all suspects. They are also verifying the scale of profits acquired and distributed by the suspects and are proceeding with crime proceeds recovery procedures such as seizure and confiscation requests.

Ryu Pil-mu, Director of Environmental Investigation at the Ministry of Environment, stated, "This case confirmed the structure of a distribution organization that illegally dumped waste solely for profit and imposed strong legal sanctions, including detaining five individuals involved in serious criminal activities, which is expected to have a preventive effect on similar crimes."

He added, "Through continuous investigations of waste generators and distribution organizations, we will relentlessly track and hold accountable those involved in illegal activities within the illegal waste disposal and distribution channels."