European law enforcement authorities said that it has seized 1,346 tons of illegal pesticides, Europol announced this on Wednesday in The Hague.
According to the European police organisation, the quantity is twice the amount seized in 2019 and would be enough to spray more than the whole of the land used for agriculture in Germany, for example.
The authorities added that two people were arrested and investigations have continued in Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, Slovenia and Switzerland.
Europol stated that illegal pesticides can endanger people’s health and the environment, but farmers often unknowingly buy counterfeit products as these are cheaper.
Studies showed that illegal trade makes up between 10 and 14 per cent of Europe’s pesticide market.
European officials adopted a coordinated response in 2015 to respond more effectively to the threat.
