Croatia Expands Toxic Waste Probe With Five More Arrests

· Investigations · Croatia

Croatian anti-corruption authorities arrested five more suspects in an expanding probe into an alleged criminal network accused of illegally importing and burying 35,000 tonnes of hazardous European waste. The arrests add to a case that has already sparked massive protests and political turmoil in the country. Investigators say the network moved the waste across borders and disposed of it unlawfully, raising environmental and public health concerns. The growing list of suspects suggests the operation was organized and involved multiple actors. The case underscores how illegal waste trafficking has become a lucrative cross-border business, and how difficult it is for regulators to track hazardous shipments once they enter the EU's internal market.

Why it matters：It shows how organized cross-border waste trafficking exploits gaps in EU shipment tracking, with consequences for environmental enforcement, public health and the politics of a member state.

Key points

  • Five additional suspects were arrested, adding to an existing probe.
  • The alleged network is accused of importing and burying 35,000 tonnes of hazardous waste.
  • The case has triggered mass protests and political turmoil in Croatia.

Sources (original reporting)

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