London - Evidence of a large-scale illegal trade in CFC chemicals has been uncovered by a British environmental group.
Between 6,000 and 20,000 tonnes of CFCs, or chlorofluorocarbons, worth up to $144 million, are smuggled into Europe each year, according to official estimates. CFCs damage the ozone layer and have led to a dramatic increase in skin cancer, and their production is banned in Europe.
The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency established a dummy company to buy illegal CFCs. Within days, Trans-Cool Trading was offered consignments from various companies of up to 100 tonnes - worth more than $800,000 on the black market. They came from plants in Russia and China, where production is allowed, and were furnished with false paperwork, via brokers in Germany, Poland and Spain.
The disclosure comes days before the 10th anniversary meeting in Montreal of more than 100 countries which have agreed to phase out CFCs.