"Waste Bomb on Farmland"… Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Arrest Illegal Landfill Gang in Yeoncheon

Graphic data of illegal activities by waste landfill gangs in Jangnam-myeon, Yeoncheon-gun, released on the 24th by the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province has uncovered a group that deceived landowners by promising to fill farmland with soil but illegally dumped waste (inorganic sludge) equivalent to 63 dump trucks.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare announced on the 24th that, following a joint crackdown with Yeoncheon County since the 6th, they detected one case of illegal dumping of inorganic sludge and eight cases of failure to install dust suppression facilities in the Jangnam-myeon area of Yeoncheon County.

The crackdown revealed that the representative of aggregate company A in Paju City, transporter B, and soil filler C conspired to propose to a farmland owner in the 941㎡ area of Jangnam-myeon, Yeoncheon County, that they would fill the farmland with good soil. After the landowner accepted, they illegally dumped approximately 1,575 tons of inorganic sludge waste, equivalent to 63 dump trucks, during vulnerable early morning hours.

Inorganic sludge is waste generated during the process of crushing rocks to produce sand. It causes phosphorus deficiency and an increase in soil hydrogen ion concentration, making it prohibited to landfill on farmland and requiring disposal through waste treatment companies.

In other farmland areas in Jangnam-myeon, eight cases of failure to install dust suppression facilities were detected.

Soil filler company D was supposed to equip dust suppression facilities to prevent dust generation during construction but failed to do so and was caught during the joint crackdown.

Farmland improvement work (soil filling) on areas larger than 1,000㎡ must be carried out with dust screens, wheel washing facilities, and water spraying facilities.

Under the current Waste Management Act, illegal dumping of waste is punishable by up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to 70 million KRW, and failure to install dust suppression facilities is subject to a fine of up to 3 million KRW under the Air Quality Preservation Act.

Yeoncheon County plans to amend ordinances related to development permits to eradicate excessive farmland filling and dumping.

Hong Eun-gi, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare, emphasized, "We will investigate illegal waste activities at business sites throughout the year to prevent illegal acts related to farmland filling in advance and to raise awareness in the related industries."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.