A rogue waste firm has been identified by police as the culprit behind a large-scale illegal dumping site in Torremolinos.

It comes after investigators uncovered piles of furniture, clothing and household debris dumped in a protected natural area.

The discovery was made on January 17 near the Cuenca de la Higuera stream, where environmental officers found what officials described as a ‘significant’ uncontrolled waste deposit.

The site was littered with bulky domestic items, including wardrobes, sofas, tables and textiles, with evidence suggesting the rubbish had been offloaded directly from large vehicles such as vans or trucks.

Days later, inspectors returned to find the situation had worsened, with a second dumping further increasing the build up of waste scattered across the municipal land.

Following an investigation involving environmental officers and the Local Police’s specialist ‘green patrol’, authorities traced the dumping back to a company operating out of nearby Benalmadena.

The firm, which specialises in clearing furniture and scrap, is now facing sanctions for what has been classified as a serious environmental offence.

The case has been handed to the council’s disciplinary body, with fines of up to €10,000 on the table under Spain’s waste and contaminated land law.

Torremolinos mayor Margarita del Cid, who initially flagged the incident publicly when it emerged, welcomed the breakthrough.

‘Our city and its natural surroundings are a heritage we must protect,’ she said. ‘We will not allow the irresponsibility of a few to put it at risk.’

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.