Ensuring crime doesn’t pay

The Environment Agency has established a new Economic Crime Unit to combat money laundering and financial crimes in the waste sector. This initiative aims to prevent criminal activity in waste management and disrupt the operations of organised crime groups.

The unit is an expansion of the Environment Agency's existing Financial Investigations Team, which has been successful in seizing illicit assets. Comprising skilled personnel such as Accredited Financial Investigators and Financial Crime Analysts, the unit will conduct comprehensive crime analysis to identify and investigate financial crimes effectively.

The Economic Crime Unit consists of two teams: the Asset Denial Team and the Money Laundering Investigations Team. The Asset Denial Team will focus on freezing accounts, seizing cash, and confiscating assets obtained through illegal means. The Money Laundering Investigations Team will target money laundering associated with environmental offenses, with potential penalties of up to 14 years in prison.

Overall, the establishment of this unit demonstrates the Environment Agency's commitment to ensuring that crime does not pay and to safeguarding the integrity of the waste management sector. More can be found here.