April 3, 2025: An investigation into the origin of an illegal shipment of 825,000kg of used lead batteries discovered in the Dutch port of Rotterdam is continuing, Batteries International has learned.

Customs chiefs in Rotterdam intercepted the shipment of what was described as hazardous old and discarded lead batteries, suspected to be on route for processing in India’s unregulated sector, last January.

A spokesperson for the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management told Batteries International on March 27 the probe to confirm the origin of the batteries, thought to be Jamaica and Puerto Rico, was still underway.

“Consultations are also being held with the countries of origin about returning the cargo. Unfortunately, these cases always take a long time,” the spokesperson said.

The Dutch Transport and Environment Inspectorate said on January 14 it had been called in to investigate following the cargo’s discovery.

According to the agency, there was no appropriate permit and the cargo was incorrectly labelled as comprising non-hazardous plastic waste and metal residues.