Operation Facility for fighting illicit waste trafficking

ended

Environmental crime, more specifically Illicit waste trafficking (IWT) has been selected as one of the priorities for the EU policy cycle 2018-2021. In line with MASP (Multi Annual Strategic Plan), OPFA-WASTE – Operational Facility for fighting illicit waste trafficking, is an EU flagship operational project targeting Illicit Waste (in particular hazardous) Trafficking, implemented by a consortium of specialized EU law enforcement agencies, open to all European LEAs in its implementation. In line with 2018-2021 EMPACT activities, based on priority 8 “to disrupt OCGs involved in environmental crime, more particularly wildlife and illicit waste trafficking”, the Project aims at fostering international police cooperation and setting harmonised investigation methodologies in the field of IWT, providing hands-on operational support through an innovative Operational Facility. To obtain valuable information on effective investigation methodologies and their operational testing, OPFA-WASTE will promote innovative and operational support for peer-to-peer cooperation among specialized LEAs through the establishment of an Operational Facility targeting ongoing trans-national IWT investigations. This unique approach will allow EU MS LEAs to receive support for ongoing IWT investigations, through: • bilateral and multilateral operational meetings (among EU MS as well as between EU MS and relevant non-EU Partner Countries); • implementation of problem solving workshops, addressing specific technical gaps identified within an investigation; • obtainment of specialized equipment strictly necessary for ongoing investigations. The active engagement of LEAs and a close coordination with Europol activities will allow OPFA-WASTE to produce tangible results for partners, EU MSs and third Countries, as well as create a set of operational and strategic outcomes for further harmonization of IWT investigations at EU level.