Greek police say a tanker truck caught dumping industrial waste at a gas station in western Athens had made repeated deliveries to the site, with officers documenting at least four illegal discharges over a 20-day period.
The case emerged after several days of surveillance by the Waste Dumping Prevention Unit of the Attica General Police Directorate. On the morning of Sept. 22, officers stopped the 41-year-old driver as he was emptying liquid waste into a drain at the gas station in Aigaleo, police said. A 63-year-old man who was temporarily in charge of the station was also arrested. The authorities also commenced proceedings against two other people over alleged violations of environmental protection and waste-management laws.
An environmental inspector from the Environment and Energy Ministry examined the material at the scene. Police said the test results, along with the waste’s strong odor, dark brown color and high concentration of suspended particles, showed that it was highly acidic industrial liquid waste. Authorities said the discharge had polluted and degraded surface waters and posed an immediate risk to public health.
A separate inspection by EYDAP, the Athens water and sewerage utility, traced the station’s drainage pipe using a camera and colored liquid. The test showed that it fed into the stormwater network, which connects to the Kifisos River and, ultimately, leads to the sea along the Athens coast.
Police also fined the tanker’s owner 2,840 euros and the driver 1,348 euros for transport-related violations, including inadequate records, the discharge of hazardous cargo and insufficient daily rest periods. The tanker was seized.
Police said inspections for illegal waste disposal are continuing.
