Europol leads international operation against environmental crime and waste trafficking
Europol led an extensive international crackdown on organized crime involved in environmental offenses, focusing on waste trafficking and pollution. The operation, named Custos Viridis, spanned the entire year of 2025 and included partners from 71 countries across five continents. This coordinated effort helped identify and disrupt criminal networks profiting from illegal waste disposal and pollution.
Environmental crime has significant consequences, including ecosystem degradation, public health risks, and economic costs linked to clean-up and enforcement. By uniting multiple countries and agencies, Europol aims to close loopholes exploited by traffickers, who often bypass regulations to dump waste unlawfully.
The operation's success reinforces the importance of international cooperation against complex global threats like environmental crime, which transcends national borders. These crimes affect communities worldwide through pollution exposure, environmental damage, and increased government spending on remediation.
Continued vigilance and collaboration will be crucial to maintain pressure on illicit actors and support sustainable environmental protection efforts. Europol’s Custos Viridis sends a clear message that illegal waste trafficking will face relentless enforcement from a coordinated global front.
