SHIJIAZHUANG — Eighteen suspects have been arrested for dumping 1,000 tonnes of hazardous waste in North China's Hebei province, local authorities said Tuesday.

Police in Xingtai city said they received a report of unknown waste dumping in Liucun township in December and found more than 200 oil drums of black grease with a pungent odor covering the land.

An investigation found the waste was transported from Zouping county in East China's Shandong province at a cost of 1,100 to 1,200 yuan ($170 to 190) per truck. The waste was dumped directly in Liucun and caused serious pollution.

Further investigation revealed that waste from Jiangsu's Lianyungang city and cities in neighboring Henan province was also dumped in the township, as well as in Hebei's Cangzhou, and Bozhou in Anhui province. Suspects confessed that they paid high freight charges for their waste to be dumped elsewhere.

The police are pursuing other suspects at large and their information has been published online.