Europol supported two major operations against illegal pesticide trafficking in the EU. The first investigation targeted a company importing counterfeit pesticides from China, replicating the products of a well-known multinational company.

The investigation involved the Italian Carabinieri Anti-Adulteration and Public Health Units (Nuclei Antisofisticazione e Sanità dell’Arma dei Carabinieri, NAS) of Padova, the Romanian National Police (Poliția Română) and Eurojust. 

In another investigation against illegal pesticides, the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) and the Portuguese National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana) targeted a Spanish company illegally importing Portuguese pesticides banned in Spain under the cover of fake denomination of the products. Counterfeit pesticides are largely sold on the black market.

They are cheaper than genuine products but still effective. However, their negative impact on the environment is severe and often underestimated by consumers.

In January 2022, following an inspection in the framework of Operation Silver Axe, the Italian NAS Carabinieri of Padova found counterfeit pesticides imported from China. The counterfeit pesticides were replicas of the genuine products but contained larger quantities of the active ingredient Lambda-Cyhalothrin.

The demand for these counterfeit pesticides on the black market was very high, as they were sold for a significantly lower price than the genuine products. The criminal network operating both in Italy and Romania illegally imported fake or banned products from China and Singapore, selling them as bio or organic fertilisers and pesticides, using fake labels.

The substances were all banned in the European Union due to their high levels of toxicity.

The investigation led to two action days on June 24 and 25 in Italy and Romania. During the raids, the national authorities arrested one suspect, searched 10 locations and gathered evidence of large-scale fraud, forgery and tax evasion.

These actions were executed under a joint investigation team set up by Eurojust to facilitate judicial cooperation between authorities. Europol facilitated the information exchange and operational cooperation, leading to the development of further investigative leads. 

In another investigation, Europol supported the Spanish and Portuguese authorities in targeting a Spanish company that purchased Portuguese pesticides banned in Spain. The ensuing investigations found that the suspects had imported over 12 tonnes of toxic substances banned in Spain, many of which were also banned across the EU, with a potential illegal turnover of up to €7 million. 

The authorities are now investigating two legal entities and four individuals in connection with this trafficking. The company covered the product with names of products and substances registered in Spanish databases to create the appearance of legal merchandise. They also purchased legal pesticides to hide the additional illegal pesticides.

The Spanish authorities detected the illegal products and performed laboratory tests to determine their composition, which was later confirmed in a lab test. The tests revealed the illegal substances the fake pesticides contained, including Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate insecticide banned in the European Union since 2020.

The banned pesticides were used in different farming facilities, some in protected areas, such as the Doñana National Park. This national park is one of the most significant ones in Spain. The illegal use of pesticides was posing a significant threat to this park’s habitat, wetlands and underground water reserves. 

Europol facilitated the exchange of information and provided continuous analytical support to both investigations. On the action days, Europol deployed experts to cross-check operational information in real-time and provide experts with possible leads and technical support.