Apprehensions Executed in Link to Supersized Unlawful Rubbish Dump

Two individuals have been taken into custody as part of an probe into the tipping of thousands of tons of refuse in a rural field in Oxfordshire, England.

Authorities indicated that a 69-year-old was arrested at a property in Andover, Hampshire, while a man in his fifties was taken into custody in Slough, Berkshire in relation with the massive heap of rubbish deposited near the area of Kidlington.

These arrests follow a recent revelation which exposed the presence of in excess of 500 illegal sites across England, featuring at least 11 so-called "large-scale sites" greater than 20,000 tonnes.

A official for the environment agency commented that the detentions were for environmental and money laundering crimes and represented a "vital step" in active investigations. The two individuals have been released on pre-trial release.

Size of the Problem

The illegal site in near Kidlington, located between the river Cherwell and the A34 highway, is believed to house around 21,000 metric tons of rubbish in a mound which is up to 150m (490ft) long and 6m (20ft) high.

This pile of waste is consists of what appears to be processed residential waste, chopped up plastics, expanded polystyrene, automobile tires and other everyday objects.

It represents just one of 517 illegal tips throughout England, at least 11 of which contain over 20,000 metric tons of waste. They include a 280,000-tonne location in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne areas in Lancashire and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne dump in Kent.

The overall amount of such larger locations is probably to be greater, as the environment authority has previously acknowledged it does not hold records on weight for all unauthorized site.

The majority these sites are in agricultural areas, frequently out of sight, and on land that is zoned as arable ground.

Criminal Activity

Authorities state numerous are operated by criminal organizations, who are making cash by asking for far less than legitimate firms to take and landfill waste.

Companies have to be liable for gate fees to use legitimate waste facilities, depending on the amount and category of material they are trying to get rid of, and landfill tax is also levied at just over £126 per ton.

Public Frustration

Initial efforts to remove the affected dump started in recent weeks due to worries over the threat of combustion and the effect that would have on the adjacent major road.

A commercial waste removal contractor has been given the contract to remediate the site over the next 12 months period at a expense of £9.6m.

An compliance manager for the government environmental crime division said that the authority would be aiming to recoup the clearance funds under asset recovery acts from any party ultimately prosecuted at the termination of its ongoing case.

She noted that this week's apprehensions would help "drive the investigation forward" and permit authorities to "pursue more leads to determine precisely what happened and who was implicated".

"The unlawful dump at Kidlington was an shocking and deliberate attack on our natural surroundings and the authorities understand the local frustration at this egregious act," she remarked.

A cabinet minister welcomed the arrests, stating: "The unlawful dumping of rubbish at this location is appalling and has resulted in considerable damage to the ecology and distress to the local residents.

"Our government is committed to eradicating this type of illegal activity across the country, by increasing financing to address waste crime, employing more staff and implementing tougher controls and sanctions for those who violate the law."

The detentions were executed on the specified day by agents from a dedicated serious crime unit and follow an prior detention of a 39-year-old from the Guildford area area in November. He was let go subject to additional enquiries.