Customs officers in Sète (Hérault) prevented the export to Senegal from the port on November 18 of 30 tonnes of tractor spare parts, French customs officials said on Tuesday. During the inspection of the goods, the agents noted in particular that the depollution certificate had not been carried out.
The sale of these vehicles was not, moreover, for the purpose of repairing them. It was therefore a case, specify the customs, of a loading of illegal waste.
A charge for “attempted smuggling of waste” was issued against the exporting company. The goods will be destroyed at the expense of the exporter, who has also been imposed a heavy fine, which has not been specified. In 2021, French customs officers made 348 observations and intercepted 4,612 tonnes of waste attempting to cross borders illegally, in one direction or the other.