The overwhelming amount of plastic waste generated by the world has opened the doors to criminal networks. A new INTERPOL report has revealed rising crime in the global plastic waste sector linked to illegal trade and illegal waste treatment. Illegal shipments have been detected in transregional and intraregional plastic waste trade routes. This has prompted the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to call for global action by governments, law enforcement agencies, businesses and consumers. 

 

For decades, China was an easy solution for countries’ plastic waste, receiving half of the world’s plastic waste. Following its move to restrict plastic waste imports in 2018, the re-routing of shipments has overwhelmed alternative countries, opening the doors for opportunistic crime. Developing Asian countries, especially those with limited waste management and enforcement capacities, are increasingly targeted. In May 2020, Malaysia initiated the costly and extensive process of repatriating 3,737 metric tons of plastic waste - equivalent to 150 shipping containers - to 13 different countries of origin.    

WWF recognises the need for countries including Malaysia to enhance cooperation between law enforcement authorities locally and internationally to address how criminal networks use vulnerabilities in global shipping routes to traffic everything from illegal plastic waste to illegal wildlife products. Following INTERPOL’s call for enhanced international and inter-agency law enforcement cooperation, WWF has outlined a series of further recommendations required in an international response by governments.