• They operated fraudulently using one of the most active websites in Spain for the online marketing of refrigerant gases

• The ringleaders imported gas from China in an irregular manner, both due to the containers and transport used and due to non-compliance with the quota system established by the European Union.

• 843 single-use refrigerant gas bottles have been seized, the marketing of which is prohibited in the EU

September 8, 2022.- The Tax Agency and the Civil Guard, in collaboration with Europol, have carried out the operation " Fake Cold ", aimed at dismantling a criminal organisation of Russian origin based in Barcelona and Girona, which imported illegal refrigerant gas from China.

As part of the operation, four Russian nationals, three men and one woman, have been arrested as alleged perpetrators of crimes of belonging to a criminal organisation, smuggling, treasury fraud and environmental crimes.

The investigation began in November 2020, when agents of the Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) of the Civil Guard and officials of the Customs Surveillance of the Tax Agency became aware of the receipt of shipments of R134a refrigerant gas, contained in non-refillable containers, some of them flammable, through ordinary parcel companies.

As a result of this investigation, it was discovered that it was a criminal organisation made up of four citizens of Russian origin who imported gas from China in an irregular manner, both due to the containers and transport used, and due to non-compliance with the quota system established in the European Union.

The European Union has established a mechanism for the gradual reduction of these types of gases through a European quota system, so that, in order to be imported or manufactured in the territory of the Union, the legally authorized importer or manufacturer is assigned an import or manufacturing quota annually by the European Commission so that the general quantitative limit is not exceeded.

At the end of June, three searches were carried out at a home, a warehouse and a law firm in the provinces of Barcelona and Girona, in which 843 single-use refrigerant gas bottles (the sale of which is prohibited), two cars, a motorcycle and a jet ski were seized.

Refrigerant gases must be contained in approved pressurized cylinders, and the sale and use of non-refillable containers has been completely prohibited since 2007, as they do not comply with the ADR regulations governing the transport of dangerous goods, given that there is a possibility that the residual gas content may subsequently escape into the atmosphere.

Three of the detainees were placed at the disposal of the Court of Instruction number 5 of Blanes (Girona), while the fourth voluntarily presented himself at the court as he was wanted.