Large quantities of climate-warming refrigerant gases are being smuggled illegally into Europe from countries including China and Turkey. This is according to a report by the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA). The researchers assume that the amount of illegally imported hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) has not decreased since the last study in 2021 – despite international agreements and stricter EU regulation. According to the study, HFCs illegally smuggled into Europe would continue to account for 20 to 30 percent of legally traded quantities. This corresponds to up to 30 million tons of carbon.