The trial had begun on October 24 2011 in relation to the Environment Agency’s largest ever investigation into alleged illegal exports of waste electrical and electronic equipment from the UK to Nigeria.

Seven defendants – four individuals and three companies – are scheduled to appear at Basildon Crown Court in Essex in a case being heard by His Honour Judge Black. A further seven defendants – five individuals and two companies – are being tried separately in relation to the same investigation once the first trial has concluded.

Two court hearings have already been held in the lead-up to today’s trial, during which it emerged that the defendants were facing charges relating to 11 containers of hazardous waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) being exported to Nigeria, containing a total of 158 tonnes of material.

The charges have been brought under the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Shipment Regulation 2006, which restricts the shipment of waste materials to non-OECD countries.