KUALA LUMPUR: Police have dismantled an illegal electronic waste (e-waste) processing syndicate operating in Kampung Telok Gong, Port Klang, valued at RM97 million.
Federal Police Internal Security and Public Order Department acting director Datuk Yusoff Mamat said the raid, which was conducted in collaboration with the Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Intelligence Investigation (WCB/PSK) unit, the Department of Environment (DoE), and the Klang Royal Municipal Council (MBDK), targeted seven premises involved in processing metals, plastics, and e-waste.
"This raid resulted in the arrest and investigation of five locals and 31 foreign nationals, aged between 25 and 60 years. The locals are believed to have acted as coordinators and facilitators, profiting from these activities, which are valued in the millions of ringgit."
"The foreign nationals are suspected of bringing technology and chemicals from abroad to facilitate these e-waste processing activities," he said at a press conference in Bukit Aman, here.
Yusoff said the syndicate was operating out of unlicensed and unregistered factories, making substantial profits while employing foreign workers.
"These factories were making millions of ringgit in profit, operating illegally without proper registration or licensing," he said.
The joint operation yielded a significant amount of recyclable materials categorised as e-waste, which were being processed to extract valuable metals like copper, iron, and tin.
Detailing the seizure, Yusoff said, "Among the items seized were 19,203 sacks of recyclable materials, 765 tonnes of various types of copper, 16 tonnes of aluminium, 150 tonnes of steel wires, and 600 tonnes of processed and unprocessed items."
"We also confiscated forklifts, machinery, fuel and water tanks, sacks of various metals, electronic items, plastics, wires, carbon tyres, and raw materials."
Yusoff also disclosed that the syndicate smuggled e-waste into the country using containers with falsified declarations to deceive port authorities.
"The e-waste was brought in from foreign countries using containers and was falsely declared to deceive authorities at the ports," he said.
Following the operation, further action was taken by the DoE and MBDK, including issuing closure notices and seizing equipment on the premises under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and the Local Government Act 1976.
"We are conducting investigations for prosecution purposes under the Environmental Quality Act 1974, Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63, Regulation 39B of the Immigration Regulations 1963, and Section 101(1)(v) of the Local Government Act 1976," said Yusoff.
He said all arrests and seizures related to the Immigration Act had been referred to the Klang Selatan district police headquarters for further action.
He also said that the operation compounded offences under the Trade, Business, and Industrial Licensing Bylaws for storing recyclable goods without a local authority-issued licence.
"The offences under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 are being followed up by the Selangor State Department of Environment," he added.
Yusoff also called on the public to assist in providing information to the police to ensure that such illegal activities could be fully eradicated.