Environment Agency Arrests Duo for Illegal Waste Dumping and Fraud

Environment Agency Latest News

Filed January 21st, 2026

Detected February 11th, 2026

Summary

The Environment Agency, in collaboration with the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, has arrested two men in connection with illegal waste dumping and fraud across England. This action is part of an ongoing investigation into waste crime, fraud, and money laundering within the waste sector.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

The Environment Agency announced the arrest of two men, aged 44 and 49, on January 20, 2026, as part of a significant investigation into illegal waste dumping, fraud, and money laundering. This action, involving a joint raid with the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, is a continuation of a larger operation that has already seen five other arrests. The agency's Economic Crime Unit, established to tackle financial crime in the waste sector, is supporting these efforts.

While the arrested individuals have been released pending further investigation, this enforcement action signals a strong stance against waste criminals. Regulated entities within the waste management sector should be aware of the increased scrutiny and the agency's commitment to rooting out criminal activity. Companies should ensure their waste disposal practices are fully compliant with environmental regulations to avoid potential investigation and penalties.

What to do next

Review waste disposal contracts and practices for compliance with environmental regulations.
Ensure all waste documentation is accurate and complete.
Report any suspicious waste management activities to the Environment Agency.

Source document (simplified)

Press release

Greater Manchester duo arrested in connection with illegal waste dumping

Two men were arrested on 20 January 2026 as part of an ongoing Environment Agency investigation.

From: Environment Agency Published 21 January 2026

Two men have been arrested for illegally dumping waste across England, the Environment Agency has announced.

In a joint raid earlier this week (Tuesday 20 January), Environment Agency officers worked with the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit to arrest two individuals - aged 44 and 49 - from the Sale and Rochdale areas.

After being interviewed, the suspects have been released pending further investigation and evidence gathered during the arrests will support action going forward.

This action forms a vital part of a large-scale, active investigation into waste crime, fraud, and money laundering by the Environment Agency. This investigation has previously seen the arrest of five people across England.

Emma Viner, Enforcement and Investigations Manager at the Environment Agency, said:

“These arrests send a simple message to waste criminals – we will stop you.

“With local police forces, we have been working non-stop to progress our investigation and bring an end to this inexcusable criminal activity.”

Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Wild from the NWROCU’s Operations Team said:

“This investigation demonstrates how vital it is for enforcement agencies and regulators to work side by side.

“We will continue to support organisations like the Environment Agency as they pursue those responsible for waste crime, fraud and money laundering. Criminal networks operating in this area can expect to be uncovered, disrupted, and prevented from causing further harm.”

In 2024, the Environment Agency launched a new Economic Crime Unit to boost its efforts to tackle money laundering and carry out financial investigations in the waste sector. These arrests mark another vital step in the unit’s work to ensure those working in waste management do the right thing and waste criminals are rooted out of the sector.

If a member of the public has any information that may assist with this investigation, they should call the Environment Agency’s 24-hour hotline on 0800 807060. They can also report it anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or the Crimestoppers website.