Illegal pesticide arrests in Alicante and Murcia

ARRESTS have been made over the illegal use of plant pesticide products used for treatment of plant diseases and to combat pest parasites.

A total of 28 people have been arrested across several provinces, including Alicante and Murcia, charged with smuggling offences against public health, to the environment, against industrial property, fraud and other rights against the consumer and money laundering.

The gang’s range of activities included importing prohibited goods that were not approved for use or contravened the rules governing industrial property. 

The use of these pesticides requires strict security measures. By not respecting the legal conditions serious damage to the environment and human health can occur as well as the risk of contamination of agricultural soils.

The investigation was first launched back in March 2013 when police in Huelva detected the possible commercialisation of a product presented as fertiliser. The line of illegal activity was traced back to the time of production of the product in Asia, its import and the subsequent formulation and distribution in Spain.