Italian authorities have launched an investigation into a large-scale scheme involving the illegal export of hazardous waste to Eastern Europe, with five Bulgarian nationals among those under scrutiny. The case centers on an Italian company accused of mislabeling waste shipments bound for Bulgaria and Greece in order to cut costs and increase profits, according to reporting by BNT.

The materials in question were officially declared as “mixed plastics,” but investigators say the contents often included different types of waste that were not processed according to environmental regulations. The operation, which has reportedly been ongoing since 2020, relied on a coordinated chain involving laboratory specialists, transport companies and other intermediaries who facilitated the shipments under false documentation.

Investigative journalist Sergio Nazaro describes Bulgaria as a key node in this trafficking network, pointing to weak oversight and limited inspections. In his assessment, the country, along with Greece, is frequently used as a transit corridor rather than a final destination, with waste ultimately redirected toward markets in Africa and Asia.

Nazaro argues that illegal waste trafficking remains underreported because it lacks visibility and public attention, despite generating significant profits. He notes that disposing of waste in compliance with environmental standards can cost around 2,000 euros per ton, while illicit operators offer services at a fraction of that price, sometimes as low as 500 euros. The result, he warns, is not only financial gain for criminal groups but also severe environmental damage, particularly in regions where waste is dumped without control.

Italian anti-mafia investigators are examining the involvement of 19 individuals in total, including a deputy mayor from Brindisi. Among those implicated are five Bulgarians, although their exact role in the network has yet to be clarified. So far, eight people have been formally charged with participating in an organized criminal group engaged in illegal waste trafficking.

According to Nazaro, such operations benefit from established corruption networks and logistical routes maintained by organized crime groups, including the ‘Ndrangheta and the Camorra. He adds that the relatively lighter penalties for waste trafficking, compared to crimes like drug smuggling, make it an increasingly attractive activity for mafia organizations.

The investigation also highlights the practical difficulties faced by enforcement authorities. Inspections often rely on documentation checks, with limited capacity to verify the actual contents of large cargo shipments. This creates opportunities not only for environmental violations but also for the potential concealment of other illicit goods.

Experts warn that the scale of the business runs into millions of euros and continues to grow, driven by regulatory loopholes and uneven enforcement across countries.