4 December 2023, Paris/Brussels – The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has just announced another successful outcome for Operation DEMETER, a series of coordinated global enforcement actions that seek to intercept illegal shipments of ozone depleting substances (ODS) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hazardous wastes. These commodities are regulated respectively by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.
Dubbed DEMETER IX, this operation was led by the WCO Secretariat, financially backed by China Customs, and technically supported by the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia/Pacific (RILO A/P). International partners included UNEP OzonAction, Basel Convention Secretariat, European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), UNODC Unwaste Project, INTERPOL, European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL), and the WCO RILO network.
All WCO Member States were invited to join the operation. A record number of customs agencies – 106 – from both Article 5 and non-Article 5 countries participated in this edition of DEMETER, whose operational phase took place between 1-31 October 2023.
Based on preliminary findings, national customs agencies seized almost 70 tonnes of substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol and 6,046 pieces of pre-charged equipment (unweighed). Most of the seizures concerned HFCs, but there were also ODS such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and even chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The WCO reports: “There was a significant increase in illegal trade cases involving Montreal Protocol substances and related equipment (over 250% compared to the previous edition)... Most of the seizures were made in Gambia and Bulgaria. The biggest seizure was reported by Italy. Most of the seizures originated from Europe and were destined for Europe and Africa. Some shipments lacked the required licenses, while others contained prohibited commodities, such as non-refillable cylinders containing controlled substances.”
Mr. Jim Curlin, Head of UNEP OzonAction, congratulated the work of WCO and the other partners on this impressive outcome, “Operation Demeter is one part of the antidote to discourage and hopefully make illegal trade in controlled substances disappear. It acts like a vaccine against criminals – the viruses – who smuggle restricted or banned substances like HCFCs that deplete the ozone layer, or HFCs that contribute to climate change… The need for climate protection is more urgent than ever, and every action counts. Every seizure counts. Every kilogram counts.” He added “Operation Demeter serves as punctual reminder that illegal trade is still out there, but also that our customs officers – both women and men – are on the job and are constantly watching out for, and acting upon, suspicious shipments. They are protecting us and helping to make the Montreal Protocol and Basel Convention succeed.”
As an Implementing Agency of the Montreal Protocol’s Multilateral Fund, UNEP considers WCO to be a strategic partner for promoting compliance and enforcement of this multilateral environmental agreement. As part of its Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), UNEP OzonAction cooperates with the WCO, regional institutions, and National Ozone Units on coordinated enforcement operations aiming to detect and deter illegal trade in controlled substances. OzonAction has participated in nine editions of Operation DEMETER, including this year’s edition of this high-profile global enforcement action.
The controls that countries are successfully using to meet their compliance objectives with the Montreal Protocol result in HCFCs and HFCs becoming more expensive as their supply becomes more restricted, which provides conditions for criminals to break the law to make a profit. Illegal trade in many of these substances continues to be detected across the globe, as criminals attempt to evade the controls and make money by supplying substances that should no longer be in use. The global community is pushing back against this trend by strengthening customs agencies’ capacities with regard to substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol and other environmentally sensitive goods, as well as through targeted initiatives like the ongoing DEMETER operations.
For more information, see the WCO press release in English and French
