Authorities have arrested a suspect after truckloads of fly-tipped waste were dumped near the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire.
The Environment Agency (EA) said a 39-year-old man from Guildford, Surrey, had been held in connection with the pile of rubbish near the village of Kidlington.
Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, previously told MPs "all available powers" would be used by officials to make those responsible pay for the mess.
Anna Burns, the EA's director for The Thames, said in a statement: "The appalling illegal waste dump in Kidlington has rightly provoked outrage over the potential consequences for the community and environment.
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"We have been working round the clock with the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit to bring the perpetrators to justice and make them pay for this offence.
"Our investigative efforts have secured an arrest today, which will be the first step in delivering justice for residents and punishing those responsible."
The EA is conducting an investigation in collaboration with Oxfordshire County Council, Thames Valley Police and National Highways.
An EA spokesman said: "After officers became aware of continued criminal activity on site in October, a court order was sought and granted to close the site.
Authorities arrested a suspect over truckfulls of fly-tipped waste dumped near the River Cherwell
|"Since this was granted on October 23, no further tipping has taken place.
"For both safety reasons and because the site is now a live crime scene, members of the public should avoid entering the site."
Fly-tippers are believed to have started building up the 150-meter-long river of plastic, tyres and household waste in the summer.
Phil Davies, head of the Joint Unit for Waste Crime, said: "We would ask that the public and media do not speculate about the identity of any other individuals who may be connected with the offending at this location, or interfere with the waste on site as we continue to treat it as an active crime scene."
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Sir Keir Starmer told MPs "all available powers" would be used to make those responsible pay for the mess
| PACalum Miller, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bicester and Woodstock, has called on ministers to issue a directive similar to the one used for a pile of rubbish illegally disposed of at Hoades Wood in Kent, which forced the EA to clear up the site.
Members of the public have been urged to avoid entering the site due to safety concerns.
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