Italian police seize 42.8 tonnes of illegal HFCs
27th October 2026
ITALY: Authorities in Italy have arrested seven people and seized 42.8 tonnes of illegal HFC refrigerant in an operation in Castellaneta, near the southern Italian port of Taranto.
The seizure was the result of a raid on two storage facilities on the outskirts of the city, which were being used to stockpile, label and resell refrigerant originating from China.
The haul included 3,784 cylinders of R134A and R410A, €218,000 in cash three vehicles, hundreds of counterfeit labels, work equipment, and packaging and storage materials. The seven individuals arrested – six of them Bulgarian – are accused of environmental crimes, receiving stolen goods, and commercial fraud.
