Two men and a woman have been arrested for conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering, the Environment Agency announced today
In raids this week, Environment Agency officers worked with North West Regional Organised Crime Unit to apprehend the individuals as part of an investigation into illegal recycling paperwork, which is often used by organised criminal gangs to launder money.
A 59-year-old man was arrested at a property in Bolton with a 42-year-old man, also from Bolton, detained. A 21-year-old woman was also arrested at a property in Chorley.
After being interviewed, the suspects have been released pending ongoing investigations and evidence gathered during the arrests will support action going forward.
The Packaging Producer Responsibility Regulations were introduced to oblige the producers of waste packaging made from materials such as plastic, glass and cardboard to contribute towards the financial cost of recycling and disposing the waste.
Businesses that meet the criteria are required to prove they have made a financial contribution by purchasing credits, known as Packaging Export Recovery Notes, from waste reprocessors or exporters. However, the credits have a monetary value which means organised criminal gangs can look to infiltrate the sector and engage in high value fraud and money laundering.
