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Two individuals have been detained as a component of an probe into the illegal deposit of thousands of tons of refuse in a field in Oxfordshire, England.

Law enforcement indicated that a 69-year-old was detained at a residence in Andover, Hampshire, while a 54-year-old was detained in Slough, Berkshire in association with the enormous pile of rubbish deposited near the area of Kidlington.

These detentions follow a recent revelation which uncovered the presence of more than 500 unlawful dumps throughout England, featuring at minimum 11 so-called "major sites" bigger than 20,000 tons.

A representative for the regulatory authorities stated that the apprehensions were for environmental and proceeds of crime offences and were a "crucial step" in active probes. Both men have been set free on bail.

Size of the Situation

The dump in near Kidlington, situated between the Cherwell River and the A34 highway, is thought to house approximately 21,000 tonnes of refuse in a heap which is up to 150m (490ft) in length and 6m (20ft) in height.

This heap of rubbish is consists of what appears to be treated residential waste, fragmented plastic materials, polystyrene, tyres and other domestic objects.

It represents just a single of 517 illegal dumps throughout England, at minimum 11 of which contain in excess of 20,000 tons of garbage. Such sites encompass a 280,000-tonne area in Cheshire, two 50,000-tonne sites in Lancashire county and Cornwall and a 36,000-tonne tip in Kent.

The overall figure of such bigger sites is likely to be greater, as the regulatory body has previously acknowledged it does not possess information on weight for all unauthorized dump.

The majority such locations are in agricultural areas, often out of sight, and on land that is zoned as farm ground.

Organized Enterprise

Law enforcement say numerous are run by criminal organizations, who are earning cash by charging much less than licensed companies to accept and bury garbage.

Companies have to pay site fees to use lawful waste facilities, based on the quantity and category of waste they are trying to discard, and a disposal levy is also levied at just over £126 per tonne.

Community Frustration

Preparation work to clean up the affected site began earlier this month following fears over the risk of combustion and the consequences that would have on the adjacent highway.

A commercial waste removal firm has been awarded the task to handle the area over the next 12 months period at a cost of £9.6m.

An compliance official for the country's regulatory team commented that the agency would be looking to recoup the clearance costs under confiscation laws from anyone ultimately convicted at the conclusion of its ongoing investigation.

She noted that the recent apprehensions would help "move the inquiry forward" and enable authorities to "pursue more avenues to ascertain precisely what occurred and who was involved".

"The illegal dump at Kidlington was an atrocious and calculated assault on our natural surroundings and we empathize with the local anger at this terrible crime," she stated.

A government official supported the actions, adding: "This unauthorized deposit of waste at this location is utterly appalling and has resulted in substantial detriment to the natural world and distress to the surrounding residents.

"Our authorities is committed to stamping out this type of criminality across the country, by increasing resources to combat waste crime, hiring more staff and implementing stricter measures and penalties for those who flout the regulations."

The detentions were made on a recent Thursday by officers from a specialist organised crime unit and come after an previous arrest of a 39-year-old from the Surrey area in November. He was released subject to additional enquiries.