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THE Royal Malaysian Customs foiled an attempt to smuggle electronic waste valued at more than RM2.15 million through Port Klang, seizing eight containers falsely declared as copper concentrate in a bid to bypass environmental import controls.
The seizure was carried out on 3 February at about 11am in a joint operation by the enforcement division of the Jabatan Kastam Diraja Malaysia in Bentong, Pahang, and the Jabatan Alam Sekitar Selangor branch.
Pahang Customs director Mohd Asri Seman said further inspection revealed that the consignments contained electronic waste believed to have been imported without the requisite permit and improperly declared on import documentation.
“Further inspections revealed that the goods in question were electronic waste, believed to have been imported without an import permit, and that the import declaration forms had been filled out incorrectly.
“The modus operandi in this case involved falsely declaring the cargo as copper concentrate on the forms in order to avoid the import permit requirement from the Department of Environment,” he said at a press conference.
The total weight of the seized materials is estimated at 186,737 kilogrammes, with a value of RM2,152,476.
The eight containers originated from Canada, Spain and Croatia, with five shipped from Canada, two from Spain and one from Croatia.
Mohd Asri said the importation of e-waste is classified as a controlled item under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023 and requires prior approval from the Director-General of Environment.
The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967 for the improper importation of prohibited goods.
Upon conviction, offenders may face a fine of not less than ten times the value of the goods or RM100,000, whichever is higher, and not more than twenty times the value of the goods or RM500,000, whichever is higher, or imprisonment for a term of between six months and five years, or both.
Addressing questions over why the operation in Selangor was handled by Pahang Customs, Mohd Asri said enforcement by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department is not restricted by state boundaries.
He explained that any state office receiving intelligence may initiate action, and in this instance the information was obtained by enforcement officers in Bentong. As such, Pahang Customs will oversee the case through to prosecution.
All seized electronic waste will be returned to its country of origin once investigations are complete, he added. - February 19, 2026