Out of Control-MAFIA makes toxic waste!!!

Environmental activists and government officials may not usually think that criminals have anything to do with the environment, but unfortunately they do. Sometimes, it is necessary to look outside the traditional box of environmental planning and look at the big picture.

What is the big picture? Well, the fact is that some sources of environmental pollution come from unexpected sources. The Italian mafia is one of them. According to Italian authorities, they are investigating a shipwreck off the coast of Calabria in southern Italy that may have been sunk by the Mafia. The shipwreck allegedly contains toxic waste material, and was deliberately sunk by the Mafia. Why? The European Union’s new regulations and restrictions made the waste disposal process lengthy, difficult, and costly. Former Mafia member Francesco Fonti, disclosed the ship’s location to authorities and stated that it contained “nuclear material” aboard. He also said that the Mafia was paid large sums to dispose of waste by sinking ships full of waste off the coast.

According to Sebastian Venneri, vice president of the environmental group Legambiente, former members had stated that the criminal organization had been to sink such ships for over 20 years. In addition, the ship, named Cunsky, could be only one of 32 ships filled with toxic material lying on the Italian seabed. Silvestro Greco, of the Calabria environmental agency, says that, “If the turncoat who admits sinking this ship also says that he personally has sunk another two ships, even without taking into account other investigations that suggest more than 20 ships were sunk, the government must find these other two ships.”

It is no surprise that threats to the environment will come from unexpected sources. But it is still very odd that environmental challenges will come from groups such as the Mafia. This scenario simply ties the problems of rising criminal activity to environmental challenges. The more the government cracks down on criminal groups, the more unnecessary environmental problems and hazards can be avoided. The government should certainly look for the remaining 31 ships allegedly sunk, even if it turns out to be only another Mafia lie. More importantly, the government should step up actions against large criminal groups such as the Mafia who will do anything for a profit with little regards for the consequences of their actions. Finally, perhaps the EU should reconsider the toxic regulations. If the regulations weren’t so stringent, people wouldn’t be driven to be desperate enough to approach Mafia types in order to get rid of their hazardous waste material.

Other criminals in other countries likely engage in similar activities that threaten our environment. . . of course criminals aren’t the main problem, our socio-economic structure is , but still this is and interesting and important issue. . .