National Threat Assessment 2008. Organised Crime - Politie

products (e.g. discarded electronic equipment) because people have enough
money to buy new products. This development has already started in some
places. Large numbers of scrap vehicles used to be sent to Eastern Europe,
for example, but currently they are mostly sent to Africa.
Developments relating to information and communication technology will
continue. This will enable players in the chain to respond more and more
effectively and flexibly to opportunities for criminal activities, e.g. by
responding quickly to reports about transport inspections and other operations
by government agencies. On the other hand, these agencies can also benefit
from technological developments, provided that they are able to eliminate
mutual barriers to effective information and communication. In the near future
new technological/micro-technological applications, such as ‘micro-dotting’
whereby transports/shipments can be accurately tracked in time and space,
will become available.
The international market for waste streams will continue to thrive due to
continued economic progress and the associated increased demand for raw
materials from the recycling of waste materials. Players who wish to benefit from
this situation by criminal means will continue to play a role in the future as well.
3.5.7 Conclusion
There are many opportunities for players in the waste-processing sector to
evade the rules and there have been cases in which these opportunities were
used. Within the waste processing logistics chain the network of dealers and
waste brokers is especially vulnerable.
It is not always easy to indicate whether a case involves a violation or a crime.
In this regard, deliberately breaking the rules is considered to be a crime.
Unintentionally breaking the rules is a summary offence.
The consequences of improper processing or dumping of waste are mainly seen
outside the Netherlands. Severe consequences for the environment and public
health may occur in the destination countries. In the Netherlands the possible
consequences concern the effects of unfair competition and damage to
reputation. Illicit exporting of E‐waste appears to have decreased in recent years.
Apparently the major retail chains now operate properly, whilst small businesses
are sometimes still drawn to sell their discarded equipment to non‐certified
collectors. In addition to negative effects, the illicit exporting of E-waste and
scrap vehicles also leads to raw materials being recovered from the E-waste and
some of the scrap vehicles being given a new life in the destination countries.
Market forces are at work in these cases.
The consequences of E-waste and scrap vehicles in destination countries are
not expected to result in major damage to the Netherlands’ reputation. The
chapter 3 – Fraud and money laundering
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