Maxi blitz in the land of Fires: fines for 140 thousand euros

Napoli – Summer has just begun, but the “Land of Fires” has already returned to being synonymous with smoke and unbreathable air.

Numerous waste fires have marked these first days of intense heat in the provinces of Naples and Caserta, demonstrating that the dramatic problem of pollution has not been eradicated at all.

In this scenario, the State Police has intensified controls to combat environmental crimes and illegal waste trafficking. A specialized working group, made up of experts from the Highway Police and with the contribution of personnel from other Departments, has strengthened the enforcement action in the areas and production sectors considered most vulnerable to illegal dumping.

 Controls report: heavy fines and seizures

The control activity, concluded in recent days, did not only concern extra-urban roads – in particular the SS 7BIS and SS 162 for the province of Naples, and the SS 7 QUATER and SP 335 for the province of Caserta – but also extended to production sites. 7 administrative checks were carried out at commercial establishments such as tire dealers, mechatronics shops, garages and used spare parts storage/trade activities. The result? 7 criminal irregularities and 15 administrative ones.

The constant patrolling of the territory, conducted in the last 15 days, has allowed the identification of a total of 272 people. Of these, 81 have been administratively sanctioned, while another 12 have been reported to the Judicial Authorities for environmental crimes, mainly related to the illegal transport of waste without the necessary registration in the Register (ex artt. 212 and 256/4 TUA).

In addition, 255 vehicles were checked, of which 92 were used for the transportation of special waste, mostly non-hazardous. Of these, 26 vehicles were seized and/or detained. The administrative violations amounted to 314, for a total amount of 141.207,00 euros.

Despite the efforts of the police and the heavy fines, the frequency of fires at the beginning of this summer highlights a bitter reality: the "Land of Fires” It is still an open wound in the heart of Campania, with the phenomenon of abandonment and burning of waste that continues to threaten the health of citizens and the environment.