Olumbamidele Dada, Hazardous Waste Disposal, CA 2002

Pasadena, CA – Olumbamidele Dada, owner of Kamila, Inc., was sentenced to six months of home detention and ordered to pay $70,055.61 in restitution after pleading guilty to violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The case, originating in late 2000, revealed a scheme to illegally dispose of thousands of containers of highly toxic chemicals originally purchased from the U.S. military.

According to court documents and investigators, Dada arranged for the shipment of these dangerous materials—described as corrosive, flammable, and retrograde—to Nigeria for resale. However, the intended international transport never materialized. The containers were abandoned at a shipper’s facility in Wilmington, California, where they began to leak, posing a significant environmental and public safety hazard.

The resulting cleanup operation, mandated by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Los Angeles County Fire Department, exceeded $80,000. The substantial costs stemmed from the hazardous nature of the chemicals and the need for specialized handling and containment procedures. Dada’s actions demonstrated a reckless disregard for both environmental regulations and the safety of those potentially exposed to the leaking substances.

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Investigation Details

The investigation was a collaborative effort between multiple agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Criminal Investigation Division, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Health Hazardous Materials Division. The agencies worked together to trace the origin of the chemicals, uncover the details of the failed shipment, and assess the extent of the environmental damage.

Dada was initially charged on December 20, 2000, with one count of violating RCRA [42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A)], specifically for the unlawful storage of hazardous waste. He entered a guilty plea on March 2, 2001. The sentencing, handed down on October 16, 2001, included the six-month home detention term and the $70,055.61 restitution order, payable to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Logistics Agency Defense, and Packers, Ltd.

Key Facts

Defendant: Olumbamidele Dada, owner of Kamila, Inc.
Location: Pasadena, California; Wilmington, California (shipping facility)
Crime: Illegal disposal of hazardous waste in violation of RCRA.
Hazardous Materials: Highly toxic, corrosive, flammable, retrograde chemicals originally from the U.S. military.
Statute Violated: 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(2)(A) – unlawful storage of hazardous waste.
Restitution: $70,055.61 to cover cleanup costs.
Penalty: Six months of home detention.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences associated with the improper handling and disposal of hazardous waste. The EPA continues to prioritize the enforcement of RCRA to protect human health and the environment from the dangers posed by these materials. GrimyTimes will continue to follow environmental crime cases as they develop.

Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database

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