Albanian customs authorities have denied claims that waste shipments linked to an international toxic waste scandal originated in Albania, saying the shipments were part of a transit agreement from Kosovo.

In early August, the Basel Action Network (BAN), a non-governmental organization that campaigns against the export of toxic waste, reported that 816 tons of hazardous waste from steel furnaces were on board two Maersk container ships en route from Albania to Thailand. BAN stated that the ships were probably transporting toxic steel furnace dust that had been captured from the pollutant filters.

They were reportedly intended for delivery to Laem Chabang port in Thailand’s Chon Buri province, but Thai authorities blocked the shipment after being alerted by BAN.

In response to the allegations circulating in the media, the Customs Directorate stated on its Facebook page on August 21: “Due to the disinformation that has been spreading in the media for days and is being used for political reasons and to denigrate the work of the Albanian Customs Administration, we would like to clarify the following: the case cited by the media is not an export from Albania, but an international transit of the zinc concentrate product from Kosovo.”

According to the management, the waste is zinc concentrate from Kosovo that was sent by the company Apelbaum shpk based in Pristina, Kosovo. The recipient of the waste is ACHRO AG, a Swiss company based in Steinhausen. The Swiss company had ordered the zinc concentrate for onward delivery to Guangxi Logistics Industry International Trade Co. Ltd in Nanning, China.

“It is not a product originating in the Republic of Albania; it is not an export from Albania, but an international transit between a company from Kosovo and a Swiss company without the involvement of a company from Albania,” the statement said.

The Customs Directorate added that it is working closely with European and international bodies in the investigation. “As in previous cases, but also in this case, ADSH is intensively exchanging information and is working closely with OLAF (EU Anti-Fraud Office) and other law enforcement authorities in joint investigations,” the directorate said.

The controversy arose earlier this month when BAN raised the alarm, expressing fears that if no action was taken, the toxic filter dust could be spread to agricultural land in Thailand or otherwise disposed of.

In a statement, BAN warned that “transporting hazardous waste without the authorization of the exporting country (Albania), transit countries (such as South Africa) and the intended importing country (Thailand) is illegal waste trafficking under the provisions of the Basel Convention.”

An investigation has now been launched in Albania, as initially reported BloombergProsecutors in the port city of Durres confirmed on August 22 that they had launched “intensive investigations” in cooperation with the European Economic Fraud Office (OLAF) and international law enforcement partners.

The allegations have also caught the attention of Thai environmental activists. Penchom Saetang, director of Thai environmental group EARTH, called on the Thai government to stop the shipments, saying: “Under no circumstances will Thailand accept to serve as a dumping ground for the rest of the world’s toxic industrial waste, electronic waste or plastic garbage.” Saetang also called on the government to “take the necessary measures to nip this offensive trade in the bud.”