United states: A male who smuggled 2,300 cylinders of ozone-depleting HCFC refrigerant R22 into the US has been fined $250,000.
Faiz Abdallahi (56) pleaded responsible in October 2021 to the inappropriate importation of a course II compound, a felony beneath the USA’s Federal Clean Air Act. He was also sentenced to 3 years’ probation.
His co-conspirator, Severo Zamora (53) pleaded guilty in January 2022 to becoming an accessory after the reality and was sentenced to six months’ probation.
Abdallahi and Zamora have been billed in February 2021 with illegally importing roughly 2,300 cylinders of R22 in May well 2017. The two ended up reported to have submitted falsified and fraudulent files to the customs and border patrol indicating that the cylinders contained R32.
In accordance to plea papers, Abdallahi admitted smuggling the R22 into the US without the need of an authorised permit. The US EPA has, considering the fact that 2020, banned the manufacturing and importation of R22.
Abdallahi admitted he arranged for Chinese R22 to be sent to the port of Extensive Beach front California and then transported by using rail to the Dallas/Fort Worthy of region disguised as R32 to prevent seizure by the US Customs and Border Security. Zamora, then repackaged and bought the R22 to HVAC providers in the US.