Two individuals have been arrested in Penzance, Cornwall, as part of a joint investigation by the Environment Agency and Devon and Cornwall Police into suspected waste packaging fraud and money laundering, authorities confirmed.
Officers carried out early-morning arrests on Monday (23 February), detaining a man and a woman, both 47, at separate properties.
The operation relates to alleged abuse of the UK’s Packaging Producer Responsibility regime, under which accredited reprocessors generate credits for packaging they claim to recycle and sell them to producers who must buy credits to demonstrate compliance with recycling obligations.
Investigators allege the suspects sold more than £6 million worth of credits based on inflated or fictitious recycling activity.
A significant proportion of the claimed reprocessing is suspected not to have actually taken place, and the individuals are also accused of laundering proceeds from the alleged fraud.
After interviews, both suspects were released pending further enquiries, while evidence gathered during the operation is being examined to support ongoing action.
Officials from the Environment Agency’s National Environmental Crime Unit said the arrests represent “another important step” in tackling waste crime.
The agency urged members of the public with information relevant to the probe to come forward via its hotline or through Crimestoppers.
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