Arrests made in raids in Yorkshire as part of investigation into waste crimes

Four people have been arrested following raids on three homes in Yorkshire in connection with an investigation into waste crime, fraud and money laundering.

A man and woman in their 20s from Leeds, a man in his 50s from Doncaster and a man in his 30s from Calderdale were arrested in connection with the investigation and evidence, including digital devices, was seized.

The arrests are in connection with two ongoing investigations by the Environment Agency and the Joint Unit for Waste Crime into fraud, money laundering and breaches of producer responsibility rules.

The raids took place on April 4 as part of a joint enforcement operation between the Environment Agency, the Joint Unit for Waste Crime and the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Organized Crime Unit. The investigation continues with evidence seized during last week's operation.

We are committed to working with our partner agencies to effectively investigate and mercilessly disrupt criminal activity.

Detective Chief Inspector Al Burns, of the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Organized Crime Unit, said: “We are committed to working with our partner agencies to effectively investigate and relentlessly disrupt criminal activity. “Working together we can leverage our collective knowledge, experience and use our powers.”

The Environment Agency said investigations revealed the alleged fraud could be worth millions of pounds.

Commenting on the arrests, Emma Viner, head of enforcement and investigations at the Environment Agency, said: “We are carefully tracking and interviewing the evidence collected during the raids to further our ongoing investigations.

“Requests of this nature are complex and the financial benefits can be significant. Our overall goal is to bring those involved to justice and eliminate the financial benefit that comes from committing a crime.”