Operation Demeter bags 168 tonnes of illegal refrigerant
6th February 2026
BELGIUM: The World Customs Organisation has reported the seizure of 168 tonnes of ozone-depleting substances and HFCs in its latest clamp down on the illicit waste trade.
Executed over five weeks last year, Operation Demeter XI led to the seizure of a record 15,509 tonnes of waste, a 57.6% increase over last year’s Demeter X.
In addition to the ODS/HFCs and 220,716 pieces of unweighed waste, the haul included 13 tonnes and 5,707 pieces of equipment containing or relying on substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol (excluding unsorted equipment classified as mixed waste), 8 tonnes and 30,009 pieces of other hazardous chemicals, including pesticides, mercury and mercury compounds.
The operation brought together a record 120 customs administrations worldwide, resulting in 409 seizures and a substantial increase in the overall volume of intercepted illicit goods. It was sponsored by the Customs Cooperation Fund – China and supported by the WCO’s global Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO) network and eight international partner organisations.
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