POLLUTION, illegal logging and wildlife smuggling are now parts of a multibillion-dollar international crime problem almost as lucrative as the drugs and illegal arms trades, a report says.

The prevalence of the latest electronic gadgets and the proposed introduction of emissions trading schemes would provide scope for the further involvement of organised crime in what is broadly labelled environmental crime, it warns.

Nevertheless, environmental crime is traditionally ”not viewed with the same moral repugnance” as property or personal crime – perhaps because it is perceived as victimless or does not always have immediate consequences, the report by the Australian Institute of Criminology warns.

”The recognition and acceptance of environmental crime as a genuine criminal offence … has perhaps been more problematic than other crime types,” the report says.

Internationally, environmental crime, including disposal of hazardous waste and wildlife trafficking, is often linked to other illegal activities such as drug trafficking and money laundering. In Australia, outlaw motorcycle groups are believed to be involved in the illegal trade of reptiles, spiders and pearls.

While the largest penalty under NSW environmental protection legislation is seven years imprisonment and/or a $1 million fine (or $5 million for a corporation), many environmental crimes are dealt with by warning letters or infringement notices. (Read on …)

The Environment Court has recently released sentencing notes relating to two prosecutions taken by Environment Canterbury relating to actual or potential contamination of water. 

• A Christchurch company, Barrs Ltd, was fined $4000 following a guilty plea that its contractor discharged contaminants onto land that may have entered water. The case was heard in the Christchurch District Court on May 24.

• Resource Recycling Technologies (NZ) Limited was fined $3500 after pleading guilty to discharging contaminants, namely hydrocarbons to land from its industrial and trade premises, without resource consent. This case was also heard in the Christchurch District Court on May 24.

• In a third and recent case, Smith Crane and Construction Limited, was fined almost $54,000 after pleading guilty to discharging contaminants without resource consent. The company was sentenced in the Christchurch District Court on September 9, 2010. (Read on …)

An Environment Waikato hearings committee has granted a range of consents for activities associated with the construction and operation of a milk powder processing plant at Arapuni.

In a decision released today, EW commissioners Rob van Voorthuysen and Dave Roke said consent conditions would help ensure the environmental effects of the proposed activities would not be inconsistent with the regional policy statement and regional plan. (Read on …)