Albanian police arrested 20 people linked to a suspected network that shipped toxic industrial waste from a steel mill in Elbasan to Thailand. The arrests follow lab confirmation that materials returned to Albania in 2024 were toxic. Prosecutors had issued 33 arrest warrants and say the probe — carried out with OLAF — involves alleged trafficking of prohibited goods, abuse of office and money laundering; 13 suspects remain at large.
Albania Arrests 20 in Probe Over Toxic Waste Shipments to Thailand
Thailand rejected the cargo after an environmental group claimed it contained illegal toxic waste, forcing its return to Albania (Adnan Beci)(Adnan Beci/AFP/AFP)
Albanian authorities have arrested 20 people suspected of involvement in a network that trafficked toxic industrial waste from Albania to Thailand, police said on Wednesday. The arrests follow a year-long investigation into more than 100 containers allegedly originating at a steel mill in Elbasan.
What Happened
Prosecutors in Durrës opened inquiries after a shipment bound for Thailand was rejected and returned to Albania in 2024. Customs paperwork had declared the cargo as iron oxide, but an environmental group raised concerns that it contained hazardous material. Laboratory tests subsequently confirmed the returned material was toxic, prompting coordinated raids that led to the recent arrests.
Who Is Involved
Prosecutors previously said they had issued 33 arrest warrants in connection with the alleged ring. The suspects include customs officials and employees of the National Environment Agency. Authorities say the alleged offences include trafficking of prohibited goods, abuse of office and money laundering. Police said they are still seeking 13 other suspects, including three Turkish nationals and one German.
Allegations and Evidence
The Basel Action Network (BAN), citing a whistleblower, reported that the cargo contained electric arc furnace dust (EAFD), a hazardous byproduct of steelmaking that can contain heavy metals. BAN founder Jim Puckett questioned why analysis of samples took so long and warned the material could have leaked or been tampered with while awaiting testing.
International Cooperation and Wider Context
Prosecutors said the probe into suspected smuggling and abuse of office is being conducted in cooperation with the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). Environmental campaigners warn that industrial waste is often exported from Western countries for processing in Asia and Africa — a global trade worth an estimated up to $82 billion a year.
Note: Investigations are ongoing and authorities continue to search for remaining suspects. No convictions have been announced.
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