Major Raid Targets Organized Environmental Crime in North Rhine-Westphalia

Over 300 officers executed 50 search warrants against a criminal network accused of illegal waste disposal and document falsification.

Authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia conducted a large-scale raid involving over 300 officers targeting 30 suspects linked to illegal waste disposal.
The suspects allegedly falsified thousands of disposal documents, profiting millions by charging high fees while dumping waste illegally, including at the Garzweiler open-pit mine.
More than 50 search warrants were executed across multiple cities, including Bottrop, Castrop-Rauxel, and Krefeld, as part of the investigation.
The operation is a collaboration between the State Criminal Police Office, NRW police, and the Central Office for Environmental Crime Prosecution in Dortmund.
Efforts are focused on recovering illicit profits and addressing environmental damage caused by the criminal network’s activities.