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Orihuela, October 2025 — The Provincial Court in Elche is hearing shocking testimony in the trial over the illegal burial of at least one million tons of waste on agricultural land in La Murada, Orihuela, between 2005 and 2011. Specialized agents from the National Police’s Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) confirmed that the accused knew the seriousness of the crime and attempted to conceal it. Prosecutors are seeking seven-year prison sentences for agricultural businessman Francisco Poveda, the landowner, and five-year terms for Antonio Ángel Fenoll, Francisco Fenoll, Ángel Fenoll Pastor—relatives of prominent local businessman Ángel Fenoll—alongside former councillor Javier Bru and businessman José Vera, who allegedly facilitated the illegal burials. Ángel Fenoll, the main accused, will not face trial due to illness. Wiretapped conversations revealed the defendants’ awareness of impending legal consequences. Poveda reportedly told Ángel Fenoll, “We’re going to end up in handcuffs,” reflecting their panic as complaints and inspections mounted. Officers testified that the illegal burials were performed despite police warnings, with Poveda accelerating work when confronted on-site. Local Police traced garbage trucks in May 2008 dumping waste on farms, capturing photographs of the crime in progress. The investigation revealed massive pits filled with untreated waste, some buried beneath citrus groves, containing organic and non-organic materials, medical waste, syringes, appliances, plastics, and glass. Officers described the scene as “Dantesque,” with nauseating stench and unsanitary conditions. Civil Guard and UDEF excavations confirmed contamination across 500 hectares spanning 11 properties, covering the districts of Los Vives, Los Rubira, Los Sigüenzas, and Los Corrales. Authorities warned that this represents one of the most severe environmental crimes in the region, with long-lasting contamination of soil and potential risks to public health and agriculture. Defense lawyers attempted to challenge the trial, questioning the use of wiretaps from the Brugal case and the identification of contaminated plots. However, Judge Francisco Javier Saravia rejected a motion to suspend proceedings, affirming that the case also relies on on-site investigations, detailed police reports, and expert analyses. This case highlights the devastating impact of environmental crimes in Spain, demonstrating how deliberate illegal waste disposal not only destroys ecosystems but also threatens human health and agricultural livelihoods. The Orihuela trial continues, shining a spotlight on accountability for large-scale environmental destruction.
