A large operation uncovers illegal wells and dumping of livestock waste in Murcia

The Environment and Urban Planning Unit of the State Attorney General's Office has carried out an extensive operation, in collaboration with the Civil Guard, in which 15 people are being investigated as alleged perpetrators of crimes against natural resources and the environment in five municipalities of Murcia.

Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
22 May 2023 Monday 14:47
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A large operation uncovers illegal wells and dumping of livestock waste in Murcia

The Environment and Urban Planning Unit of the State Attorney General's Office has carried out an extensive operation, in collaboration with the Civil Guard, in which 15 people are being investigated as alleged perpetrators of crimes against natural resources and the environment in five municipalities of Murcia. They are accused of carrying out improper extraction of groundwater, irregular management of pig waste and carrying out improper dumping.

In the course of the investigation, the Civil Guard has carried out 54 inspections in livestock farms and waste management companies located in the municipalities of Alhama de Murcia, Cartagena, Fuente Álamo, Torre Pacheco and Totana, allegedly related to illegal extractions of groundwater and irregular discharges

The Prosecutor's Office reports that "in addition to the fifteen clarified crimes, a total of 118 complaints have been processed for infractions regarding livestock regulations"

The Civil Guard has also inspected a total of 255 slurry storage ponds and 20 manure collection tanks, "in which a large number of irregularities have been observed that have resulted, in response to the risk of causing damage to the environment."

Likewise, “a total of fifteen irregular water intakes have been discovered, supposedly intended for the supply of livestock farms and for animal consumption.

As a result of this action, in the criminal field, of the aforementioned inspections "a high number of administrative infractions have been derived, due to irregularities committed in the livestock sector, for which the Civil Guard has notified a total of 118 infractions for contravening the regulations among others, to the competent authorities in the matter”.

According to the investigations carried out, these irregularities "represent a potential danger to the environment", derived from "the situation of slurry ponds close to boulevards, the overflow of slurry from the ponds themselves, direct discharges, as well as the slurry pipes outdoors or accumulations of solid remains”.

Cases of deposit of livestock manure in rafts that did not have the proper measures to prevent spills and leaks have been detected, which resulted in the spillage in the area affected by the protected space and included in the Natura 2000 Network called " Saladares del Guadalentín”.

The investigations began in January 2022 and have been carried out, for more than a year, by civil guards from the Murcia Nature Protection Service (Sspronna), in collaboration with the Sepona Unit attached to the Central Unit Prosecutor's Office. Madrid Environment Operations (UCOMA).

This operation has had the collaboration of the Segura Hydrographic Confederation, the Department of Water, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Region of Murcia and the respective Town Halls.

The Superior Prosecutor of the Region of Murcia continues with the practice of proceedings to determine the possible criminal responsibility of the people investigated.