Clinical waste, sensitive bank documents containing personal information, and other waste from the Republic has been found in an illegal landfill site in south Co Tyrone.
About 5,000 tonnes of waste, thought to be covertly dumped and buried by organised criminal gangs, was uncovered by the North's Department of the Environment at the weekend at a site understood to be near the Border.
According to BBC Northern Ireland, documents bearing the name and logo of the security company Securicor were uncovered as well as bank giro documents, credit card slips and other sensitive banking details. Other waste from well-known commercial concerns was discovered.
The clinical waste included used syringes and other materials which could be infectious. This has sparked concerns that water draining from the bog into streams will spread contamination. Samples were taken yesterday for further examination.
The discovery is the latest in list of such discoveries, with about two identified on average per week. The department claims waste is being transported distances up to 100 miles for dumping and that the trade is lucrative for the criminals involved.
There were reports yesterday that they pick up around £2,500 per 20 tonnes of waste. That means the weekend dump alone could have netted those responsible some £250,000.
Mr Steve Aston, head of waste management at the department told the BBC: "We are talking about the discovery of one to two new illegal landfills on a weekly basis." The department fears the problem is set to get worse, with the mounting waste disposal problem in the Republic and growing pressure on Northern Ireland councils to respond. Late last year the Environmental Health Service, which took over responsibility for cross-Border waste control, set up a special team within its waste management unit to tackle the problem. Since coming into operation last month it has been monitoring and sampling illegal dumping. But it has the more formidable challenge of using its new powers of prosecution to break the gangs involved.