A Hands-On Exchange in Ireland and the Netherlands
From 11 to 14 February 2025, environmental and enforcement experts from across the globe gathered in Dublin, Ireland, and Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for a dynamic and immersive ENFORCE study tour on the prevention and combatting of illegal traffic of hazardous and other wastes under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. Organized by the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and supported by the European Union, the four-day tour marked a milestone in strengthening international cooperation, hands-on capacity, and border-level enforcement aligned with the Basel Convention.
Held back-to-back with the ninth meeting of the Environmental Network for Optimizing Regulatory Compliance on Illegal Traffic (ENFORCE), the study tour brought together ENFORCE members, Basel Convention Regional Centres, intergovernmental organizations, and frontline national authorities—including Focal Points, Competent Authorities, customs, police, and prosecutors. Together, they tackled real-world challenges of identifying, intercepting, and prosecuting illegal transboundary movements of waste.
Two Countries, One Mission
- Ireland: The first segment of the study tour, hosted by Ireland as the ENFORCE member representing the Western European and Other States Group, introduced participants to on-the-ground procedures and coordination approaches used by Irish authorities to detect, intercept, classify and prosecute illegal waste shipments, as well as to recover materials and convert waste into energy.
- Netherlands: The second segment, hosted by Dutch Customs in Rotterdam—home to one of the world’s busiest ports—offered direct insight into inspection protocols, customs training, container screening technologies, and waste classification practices used at the border.
Throughout the tour, participants exchanged best practices and deepened their knowledge on:
- Handling suspected cases of illegal traffic;
- Waste classification and shipment documentation;
- Operational coordination between customs and environmental authorities;
- Emerging technologies and procedural innovations trade control and environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes and other wastes
“The ENFORCE study tour was truly transformative. From a Deputy Public Prosecutor’s perspective, observing first-hand the close coordination between customs and environmental authorities at key ports such as Rotterdam provided actionable insights we can adapt to our national context. This practical exposure not only enhances our ability to detect and address illegal waste shipments but also informs stronger case-building and prosecution strategies.”
—Nor Azizah Binti Aling, Attorney General’s Chambers, Malaysia
More Than Training: A Collaborative Global Response
As global waste trafficking becomes increasingly sophisticated, the study tour served not only to enhance individual knowledge and skills, but to reinforce a unified network of professionals committed to the environmentally sound management of hazardous and other wastes. Participants left equipped with practical tools, stronger cross-border connections, and renewed commitment to fulfilling their obligations under the Basel Convention, which specifically addresses illegal traffic as a critical compliance priority.
The Secretariat extends its sincere appreciation to the Governments of Ireland and the Netherlands for hosting the tour and to the European Union for its generous financial support. This initiative reflects the power of regional leadership, operational collaboration, and shared purpose in the face of transboundary environmental crime.
As the ENFORCE network continues to grow and adapt to new threats, capacity-building efforts like these will remain essential to safeguarding communities and ecosystems worldwide.
