Croatia🏛️ PoliticsProgressiveOverlooked by conservatives9 days ago
Troskot about personal waste: This is an organized criminal chain that goes from Gospić to Benkovac
A parliamentary representative from Most, Zvonimir Troskot, has accused local authorities and companies of engaging in organized illegal waste disposal operations spanning from Gospić to Benkovac. He claims that this criminal network began in Gospić, where permits were issued allowing waste importation from Italy, Slovenia, and Germany. Troskot highlights that certain Croatian companies participated in illegally disposing of waste from their warehouses, while also pointing to environmental risks in Štikada, where plastic waste containing harmful PFAS chemicals was allegedly dumped near a lake connected to the Zrmanja watershed. He emphasizes that the waste was deliberately buried under soil and sand, indicating a planned operation rather than accidental dumping. Troskot calls for investigations into whether companies like Cezar and Josip Šincek, through the C.I.O.S. group, organized the transportation of waste from Siska to Benkovac, and urges tax authorities and intelligence agencies to review financial records during specific months to trace the flow of money related to these activities.
Josip Šincek, one of the main suspects in a major investigation into illegal waste disposal in Croatia, was spotted participating in the Vinska Alka bicycle competition on June 6 during the Grashana Festival in Kutjevo. The event took place early in June, with the Vinska Alka being part of the festival’s program on that date. It is a fun contest where participants ride bicycles with spears in hand, attempting to hit targets. Šincek has become central to one of the largest environmental investigations in Croatia. In February 2025, the Croatian Police launched an inquiry against ten individuals and four companies suspected of multiple criminal offenses related to the environment and economy, including organized crime, serious environmental crimes, document forgery, tax evasion, and money laundering. According to police, a group allegedly illegally dumped more than 35,000 tons of plastic and medical waste in Croatia between 2022 and 2024. Investigators believe this waste was either buried underground or left on open land, while documentation was used to conceal its true movement. Europol stated that the waste was primarily imported from Italy, Slovenia, and Germany and falsely presented as recyclable plastic material. According to Europol, the network made at least four million euros through these illegal activities. Šincek is considered the key figure in the case. While the police have not publicly named suspects, Index.hr revealed on February 13, 2025, the day of the large police operation, that Šincek was the primary suspect. According to information obtained by Index, investigators suspect he organized the import of waste plastic and medical waste from Italy and Slovenia and its illegal dumping in areas around Varazdin, Gospic, and Benkovac. In subsequent days, Index published further details of the investigation. Investigators had been secretly monitoring and eavesdropping on Šincek and his wife Monica for months, recording the organization of waste transport to locations where it ended up. Šincek's name continued to appear in later expansions of the investigation. In June 2025, the police investigated how permits for waste management were issued to his company in Gospic, and in March of this year, the investigation expanded again after the discovery of another illegal dump site near Senj, where over 2,600 tons of waste, according to investigators' suspicions, ended up. Šincek mentioned that the head of the HDZ inspectorate asked him for 500,000 euros in bribes. Šincek was also mentioned in a corruption investigation involving former chief state inspector Andrija Mikulic. Index learned in November last year that Šincek and Mikulic met several times at a café in Gospic. Later, Šincek requested to be re-interviewed by the police, where he claimed that Mikulic had asked him for up to 500,000 euros in bribes so that the State Inspectorate would stop acting against his companies. Šincek’s lawyer, Petar Car, confirmed that his client told the police about alleged extortion, and the investigators checked his claims. According to the police, the primary suspect Šincek organized the transportation of waste from other European Union countries and Croatia to areas around Varazdin, Gospic, and Benkovac. Investigators suspect that the waste was buried in the natural ground and covered with soil and gravel, while some crushed plastic and mixed waste was dumped on open areas near Gospic. The police state that the primary suspect knew such disposal could endanger the soil, agricultural land, water, and human health. The investigation expanded further in March of this year. The police now suspect the same group also disposed of waste in the area of Senj, where at least 2,640.23 tons of waste containing harmful and dangerous substances ended up illegally.
3 reports
N1 HrvatskaIndependentProgressiveFactual 90Objective 8510 days ago
Saborski zastupnici Mosta, Zvonimir Troskot, Marin Miletić i Ivan Matić, upozorili su u Benkovcu na organizirani kriminalni lanac vezan uz nezakonito odlaganje otpada, koji se proteže od Gospića i Štikade do Benkovca. Upravo su napomenuli da je ovaj problem postao prijetnja za vodu, okoliš i zdravlje stanovnika regije, te su pozvali policiju, poreznu upravu i druge institucije da istraže svaku osobu, tvrtku i financijsku transakciju povezanu s tim pojavom. Troskot je naglasio da je početak ovog lanca u Gospiću, gdje su izdane dozvole za dovoz otpada iz inozemstva, što je omogućilo nezakonito zbrinjavanje otpada. Posebno su upozornjeni na Štikadu, gdje se otpad odlaga u blizini jezera povezanog sa slivom Zrmanje, što može predstavljati prijetnju zbog prisutnosti PFAS-a. Troskot je također naveo da je pod zemljom u Benkovcu pronađeno oko 11 tisuća tona otpada, što ukazuje na organizirano i planirano djelo. Pozvali su da se provjeri da li tvrtka Cezar i Josip Šincek, putem prijevoznika u C.I.O.S. grupi, organizirali prijevoz otpada iz Siska u Benkovac.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue of illegal waste dumping as a criminal enterprise involving organized crime, which implies a critique of systemic failures and corruption within local authorities and institutions. The emphasis on the need for urgent investigation by state agencies like USKOK suggests a左
Why factuality (90): The article accurately describes the concerns raised by Most representatives about organized criminal activity related to illegal waste disposal. It references specific locations and potential environmental risks, matching the primary source document’s details.
Why objectivity (85): The reporting is balanced, presenting the concerns of Most members without overtly favoring any political stance. The language is professional and focused on the facts rather than opinion.
Novi listIndependentProgressiveFactual 85Objective 6510 days ago
A parliamentary representative from Most, Zvonimir Troskot, has accused local authorities and companies of engaging in organized illegal waste disposal operations spanning from Gospić to Benkovac. He claims that this criminal network began in Gospić, where permits were issued allowing waste importation from Italy, Slovenia, and Germany. Troskot highlights that certain Croatian companies participated in illegally disposing of waste from their warehouses, while also pointing to environmental risks in Štikada, where plastic waste containing harmful PFAS chemicals was allegedly dumped near a lake connected to the Zrmanja watershed. He emphasizes that the waste was deliberately buried under soil and sand, indicating a planned operation rather than accidental dumping. Troskot calls for investigations into whether companies like Cezar and Josip Šincek, through the C.I.O.S. group, organized the transportation of waste from Siska to Benkovac, and urges tax authorities and intelligence agencies to review financial records during specific months to trace the flow of money related to these activities.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue as a systemic and organized crime involving local authorities and businesses, which implies a critique of institutional corruption and regulatory failure. The emphasis on the need for investigative bodies to scrutinize financial records and hold accountable those who may
Why factuality (85): The article reports on allegations of organized waste trafficking from Gospić to Benkovac, citing statements from politician Zvonimir Troskot. It references specific locations, timelines (2019–2025), and environmental concerns like PFAS contamination. While no primary source is available, the claims
Why objectivity (65): The tone is accusatory and highlights political responsibility, particularly pointing fingers at local officials like Darko Milinović. The language suggests a critical stance toward authorities and emphasizes potential criminal activity, which introduces bias. The focus on political figures and alle
Novi listIndependentProgressiveFactual 75Objective 609 days ago
The article reports on environmental concerns related to waste disposal operations conducted by the Šincek couple and their companies, Tipos Resurs and Izoxeco, across Croatia. In Gospić, analyses revealed elevated concentrations of heavy metals and 'forever chemicals' (PFAS) in soil and groundwater, leading to public unrest. These findings were confirmed by the military intelligence agency USKOK, which commissioned tests from Zagreb’s Faculty of Geotechnics. The waste sites, including one at the former quarry Kamen Amadeus in Benkovac, have been linked to illegal financial gains, with estimates of over 465,000 euros in illicit profits. The site, owned by goldsmith Paško Dodić, has connections to former state inspector Andrija Mikulić, who allegedly demanded bribes from Šincek. The Dodić family claims they were offered property deals using recycled plastic-based materials, further linking the waste processing activities to broader corruption networks.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the Šincek operation as part of a larger criminal network involving corrupt officials and illegal profit-making, emphasizing systemic issues and potential political collusion. While it presents factual data from USKOK and academic institutions, the narrative leans toward exposing汚
Why factuality (75): The article reports on environmental concerns related to waste disposal by the Šincek family and their companies, citing analysis results from the University of Zagreb's Faculty of Geotechnics. It references multiple locations including Gospić and Benkovac, and mentions specific quantities of waste
Why objectivity (60): The article presents the situation as an ecological disaster and uses emotionally charged terms such as 'ekocid' and 'vječne kemikalije.' It frames the Šinceks as antagonists and highlights their activities negatively, suggesting a potential bias towards portraying them unfavorably. The tone leans t
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