A SHIP carrying 71 containers of toxic waste, alleged to have been illegally exported from the UK to Brazil, has today sailed into Felixstowe port.

A SHIP carrying 71 containers of toxic waste, alleged to have been illegally exported from the UK to Brazil, has today sailed into Felixstowe port.

As an Environment Agency investigation continues into the alleged illegal shipment, the containers arrived on board the cargo ship MSC Serena.

But Felixstowe town councillor Harry Dangerfield said the toxic cargo was not welcome in the town.

He said: “Hopefully the authorities will deal with this effectively and quickly and it will be gone as soon as possible.

“It is a worry and not something we would welcome to our town, but I am sure there will be no risk and all precautions will be taken.”

The Environment Agency will carry out fumigations of the containers - expected to last a week - before carrying out a full investigation of their contents.

The Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Resources (IBAMA) has alleged some of them contain clinical waste including syringes and condoms.

Earlier this month officers from the Environment Agency's National Environmental Crime Team, with Wiltshire Police, raided premises in Swindon, arresting three men aged 49, 28 and 24, in connection with an ongoing inquiry into the alleged illegal shipment of waste to Brazil.

Today the Environment Agency said once evidence has been gathered, it will ensure the waste is safely dealt with by an appointed contractor.