Odesa Officials Arrested in Toxic Waste-Dumping Scheme

Law enforcement officers exposed a large-scale scheme of illegal dumping of toxic waste in Odesa region.

According to the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office, a deputy of the Safianivka village council and four other people who organized an illegal land pollution business are at the center of the criminal activity.

According to the investigation, the deputy, together with his acquaintance, set up a company that was supposed to provide agency services for ships. However, in fact, the company became a cover for illicit enrichment by violating environmental standards.

Photo: Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office

The agency explained that in order to avoid suspicion, the criminals entered into an agreement with a licensed company for the disposal of hazardous waste. However, it was just a formality - no waste was transferred for disposal, and the agreement was never fulfilled.

Three more people were involved in the criminal scheme. They were responsible for collecting bilge water (waste from cargo ships containing hazardous oil products). These toxic substances were supposed to undergo special disposal, but instead they were secretly dumped directly into the territory of a solid waste landfill in the Izmail district.

Photo: Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office

The prosecutor's office estimated that the illegal dumping of toxic substances contaminated more than 2,200 square meters of land. The waste contained compounds hazardous to human health and the environment, which caused environmental damage worth more than UAH 2.4 million.

Law enforcement officers have already detained the suspects. Currently, all five members of the criminal group have been served a notice of suspicion under

• Part 2 of Art. 239 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - pollution of land with hazardous waste
• Part 2 of Art. 364-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - abuse of power for obtaining illegal benefits.

The suspects are in custody, but they have been granted the opportunity to post bail.

Earlier, Intent wrote that on one of the beaches of Odesa, untreated sewage gets directly into the water through an emergency collector, polluting the Black Sea.

Meanwhile, jellyfish poisoned by fuel oil are dying en masse on the coast of Odesa region.

Ірина Глухова