Two buffalo farms seized: wastewater in ditches and hazardous waste

San Cipriano d'Aversa – Two buffalo farms, owned by two individual businesses, have been seized. The Carabinieri Forestale (Forestry Police) of the Marcianise unit, along with veterinarians from the Caserta Local Health Authority, have sealed off the farm's grounds, waste, and all 349 buffalo. The two farmers have been charged.

During the inspection, the animals were found being raised in complete cohabitation at the livestock complex. The officers confirmed the illegal management of livestock effluent, which had been dumped into two ditches, over 100 meters long and approximately 8-10 meters wide, filled with both shovelable and non-shovelable waste. The paddocks housing the animals were also filled with buffalo manure.

Not only that, but piles of hazardous waste were found—packaging contaminated with pesticides and motor oil—along with non-hazardous packaging and used batteries, all of which had been mishandled.

Hence the criminal charges brought against the owners of the two companies: illegal management of hazardous special waste without any authorization and abandonment of non-hazardous special waste, consisting of livestock waste, with the risk of compromising large swaths of land.

The Carabinieri Forestale then proceeded on their own initiative to preemptively seize the company's land, the waste described, and all 349 buffalo owned by the companies inspected. Both farmers were reported at large.