Gyeonggi Province Special Investigation Unit Arrests Unlicensed Waste Handler for Illegal Dumping and Abandonment of Business Waste

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] An unlicensed waste handler surnamed A (60, male) has been apprehended by Gyeonggi Province investigators. He illegally collected mixed business waste containing waste electrical cables, waste vinyl, and waste plastic, sold the metals after sorting them out, and obtained illicit gains by illegally dumping and abandoning the remaining waste.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Investigation Unit revealed on the 10th that A was arrested on the 8th after filing an arrest warrant, taking into consideration concerns about destruction of evidence and risk of flight.

According to the investigation results, A, an unlicensed operator without waste processing permission, collected approximately 6,000 tons of mixed business waste containing waste plastic, waste vinyl, and waste cables over 4 years and 2 months from January 2016 to March 2020 while traveling through Goyang City, Hwaseong City, and other areas.

A selectively picked only waste cables from the collected waste, sold the metals, and is suspected of illegally storing and dumping approximately 700 tons of cable sheathing and remaining waste vinyl and plastic by renting three locations including secondhand shops in other people's names in sparsely populated areas. The illicit gains resulting from this amounted to approximately 800 million won.

Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi Province Special Investigation Unit has criminally charged 14 people (including 6 corporations) including A after investigating illegal waste cases from March of last year onwards.
The total amount of waste illegally processed by these individuals reached approximately 9,400 tons. The Special Investigation Unit conducted forced investigations including 14 executions of search and seizure warrants and 4 digital forensic investigations to prove specific charges regarding waste sources and fund flows.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Investigation Unit plans to forward 5 people (including 3 corporations) including A, whose charges have become concrete, to prosecutors within this week, and the remaining 9 people (including 3 corporations) after reinforced investigations.

According to the 'Waste Management Act,' processing waste without permission is punishable by imprisonment of up to 7 years or a fine of up to 70 million won.

Yin Chi-kwon, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Investigation Unit, stated, “We will track down and strongly punish acts of illegal dumping and abandonment of waste for illicit gains,” and added, “Since waste is often secretly disposed of in sparsely populated areas, active reports and tips from residents are needed.”