2006 Ivory Coast toxic waste dump waste from European ports. Trafigura claims that this was done under agreement that the waste would be treated and disposed of legally, and that the substance was waste ("slops") from the routine washing of "Probo Koala"'s tanks. Again according to Trafigura, it became apparent that the untreated slops had been dumped illegally at municipal refuse dumps. They contend that the slops were an alkaline mix of water, gasoline, and caustic soda, along with a very small amount of foul-smelling and toxic hydrogen sulfide. Further, the company says that their tests show that, while noxious, the slop from their ship could
2006 Ivory Coast toxic waste dump not have caused deaths, no matter how poorly it was handled by a third party. The company contends that the people of Abidjan, especially those living near dumps, suffered from a lifetime of exposure to toxic substances, not from their actions. The Probo Koala had its cargo rejected here by Amsterdam Port Services BV, and was to be charged €500,000 in nearby Moerdijk. On it offloaded a liquid waste in Abidjan, paying around €18,500 for its disposal. According to the City of Amsterdam's report, before it dumped the waste in Abidjan, the "Probo Koala" was in port in the Netherlands