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Two men have been taken into custody as an element of an inquiry into the illegal deposit of many thousands of tons of refuse in a open field in the county of Oxfordshire.

Authorities reported that a 69-year-old was detained at a property in Hampshire's Andover, while a 54-year-old was detained in Slough, Berkshire in connection with the massive mound of waste deposited near the area of Kidlington.

These detentions come after a previous investigation which exposed the existence of in excess of 500 unlawful sites throughout England, featuring at minimum 11 so-called "super sites" bigger than 20,000 metric tons.

A representative for the regulatory agency commented that the apprehensions were for environmental and proceeds of crime crimes and represented a "key step" in continuing investigations. The apprehended men have been set free on pre-trial release.

Magnitude of the Problem

The dump in near Kidlington, positioned between the River Cherwell and the A34 highway, is thought to house around 21,000 metric tons of rubbish in a mound which is up to 150m (490ft) in length and 6m (20ft) tall.

This mound of garbage is composed of what looks to be treated residential refuse, shredded plastic materials, polystyrene, tyres and assorted everyday objects.

It constitutes just one example of 517 unauthorized dumps in England, at a minimum of 11 of which contain in excess of 20,000 tonnes of waste. These encompass a 280,000-tonne site in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne areas in Lancashire and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne dump in the county of Kent.

The actual amount of such larger sites is likely to be greater, as the regulatory body has earlier indicated it does not hold data on tonnage for each illegal site.

A large proportion of sites are in countryside areas, often concealed, and on land that is intended to be agricultural ground.

Organized Enterprise

Authorities say many are managed by organized crime groups, who are making profit by charging much less than licensed operators to take and dispose of garbage.

Companies have to incur site fees to use licensed disposal sites, contingent on the volume and category of waste they are trying to get rid of, and a disposal levy is also charged at just over £126 per tonne.

Community Anger

Preparatory efforts to clear the affected location began earlier this month following fears over the threat of blaze and the effect that would have on the nearby major road.

A contracted waste removal contractor has been given the task to deal with the location over the following 12 months at a expense of £9.6m.

An enforcement officer for the national regulatory team stated that the body would be seeking to recoup the clean-up costs under proceeds of crime laws from any individual successfully convicted at the conclusion of its current inquiry.

She added that the recent detentions would help "push the probe forward" and enable authorities to "pursue more leads to ascertain in detail what occurred and who was a party to it".

"The unauthorized dump at this location was an appalling and deliberate attack on our natural surroundings and the authorities understand the public's anger at this horrific crime," she said.

A senior minister supported the detentions, stating: "The illegal tipping of waste at this location is appalling and has resulted in considerable damage to the natural world and distress to the surrounding community.

"The administration is dedicated to eradicating this type of illegal activity throughout the country, by increasing funds to tackle illegal dumping, hiring more personnel and implementing more severe checks and sanctions for those who flout the law."

The detentions were carried out on a recent Thursday by agents from a regional serious crime squad and follow an prior arrest of a 39-year-old from the Surrey area in the autumn. He was let go pending more inquiries.