Almost a year has passed since the large-scale operation of the ecological police in the Košice district Nad Jazerom, where law enforcement officers found about three thousand damaged and faulty cars. Although this is one of the biggest cases of unauthorized handling of hazardous waste in the recent history of Slovakia, the investigation has not yet brought any charges.
What last year's eco-police operation showed
The large police action began on October 20, 2025. The case was noticed by the Department for Detection of Hazardous Materials and Environmental Crime of the Presidium of the Police Force. Investigators came across a huge number of old cars on a large area, estimated to be between two and three thousand units.
Local residents had long complained about the stench and suspicious activity in this area. According to the mayor (starosta) of the Nad Jazerom district, Lenka Kovačevičová, this site operated in this area for almost two decades. The operator had the necessary permits in the past, but they gradually expired, and the waste management system completely failed, turning this place into a huge illegal dump.
Investigation without accused and unclear fate of the car dump
Although almost twelve months have passed since the operation, the case has progressed minimally. The spokeswoman of the Presidium of the Police Force, Lea Vilganová, confirmed that the case is still under investigation and necessary procedural actions are being carried out.
No charges: The police officially confirmed that no specific natural or legal person has been charged in connection with the case so far.
Lack of self-government data: Neither the city district nor the city itself currently has exact information about how many car dumps disappeared from this area after the operation and how many still remain there.
Ongoing actions: The authorities conducting the criminal proceedings refuse to provide details, citing that the investigation is at a sensitive stage.
Broader problem with car dumps in the city
The self-government has long been trying to fight abandoned vehicles in other parts of the East Slovak metropolis. Residents can report faulty cars without valid technical or emission control via a special email address. For officially evacuated vehicles from regular streets, the city even created a specialized collection parking lot, but the situation around the giant illegal car dump in the Nad Jazerom district remains only partially resolved.
