Benkovac Hides 11,000 Cubic Meters of Waste
USKOK investigators have uncovered a massive illegal landfill of ground plastic in Benkovac, while residents warn of official silence and a pattern similar to the Gospić case.
USKOK investigators have uncovered a massive illegal landfill of ground plastic in Benkovac, while residents warn of official silence and a pattern similar to the Gospić case.
While public attention is focused on Gospić, a new N1 investigation reveals that Benkovac is the site of another major environmental scandal. Just a kilometer and a half from the town center, USKOK investigators suspect that approximately 11,000 cubic meters of shredded plastic have been illegally buried.
According to N1's information, this is the same investigation and the same actors linked to the Gospić case. To conceal the waste, it was covered with soil and stone aggregate, and the entire operation took place within a quarry to make it appear as if remediation of an old excavation site was underway.
Residents of Benkovac who spoke with N1 journalist Vesela Šegvić Kordić expressed concern but also fear of speaking publicly. "And how could it not bother us? But as far as we're concerned, nothing is said about it here in Benkovac," one resident said.
Another was more direct, linking the silence to the local political structure. "We're worried, but it's a military secret; you're not allowed to talk about it. The HDZ is in power, and so on and so forth. Nobody talks about it, but everyone knows. Who brought it, where it was buried-everyone knows; our leaders know all about it," he said.
Benkovac Mayor Tomislav Bulić (HDZ) told N1 he was surprised by the scale of the problem. "I'm honestly surprised that this flew under the radar and that such quantities could be dumped in Gospić, Benkovac, and other locations in Croatia without being prevented. It clearly wasn't, and I think the law is too lenient in that regard," Bulić said.
USKOK suspects that Josip Šincek played a key role in burying waste in the Benkovac area between 2022 and 2024. According to the investigation, the waste was imported from Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia, and a building permit for the site was issued by the Zadar County authorities.
Residents' reactions are outraged. "Very bad, very bad. What am I supposed to think? If that's the case, then it's abnormal," commented Josip from Benkovac. Nikola from Benkovac believes responsibility must be individual: "You're responsible for your actions in life, I for mine, the gentleman for his-so we should all be responsible for our actions."
N1 attempted to obtain official information and answers regarding this case. However, USKOK has not yet responded as to whether it will release the expert findings, as it did in the Gospić case. The Ministry of Environment and Green Transition also did not respond to inquiries about the illegal landfill. Zadar County, which issued the building permit for the site, also failed to provide a statement.
