EPA Repatriates Four Containers of Hazardous Chemical to Greece, Fines LEC for Pollution

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has with immediate effect ordered the repatriation of four 40-feet containers of hazardous chemicals to Greece, from where they were brought, before entering Liberia. According to EPA Executive Director Nathaniel Blama, the chemical on the containers were fast tracked by the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) while conducting its regular inspection of cargos that are brought into the country.  The EPA Director said the chemical when disposed of in any environment has the propensity to cause hazard to human health. On January 2, 2020, the anti-smuggling unit of the Liberia Revenue Authority, while inspecting shipments at the Freeport of Monrovia, observed an unusual foul odor oozing from a consignment of polyethylene bags.  Suspecting that the bags could contain hazardous chemicals smuggled into Liberia, the anti-smuggling unit immediately notified the EPA to launch an investigation into the content of the shipment, and when the EPA arrived on the scene, it confiscated the four 40 foot containers containing compressed empty polyethylene bags shipped from Greece to Liberia by Republic Waste Services, a Liberian registered company engaged in recycling waste,” said Executive Director Blama.