Federal police have successfully dismantled a major syndicate involved in the illegal import, processing, and export of electronic waste (E-Waste) worth millions of ringgit, thanks to a crucial tip-off from the Pahang royalty.
The operation was a joint effort led by Bukit Aman's Anti-Money Laundering (AMLA) division and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Secretariat Unit. On August 5, police launched a series of raids across multiple states, including Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, and Johor. Specific locations targeted included Rawang and Bukit Tagar in Selangor, Rembau and Gemencheh in Negeri Sembilan, Pekan and Bandar Muadzam Shah in Pahang, and Simpang Renggam in Johor.
The breakthrough came after a personal tip-off from the Regent of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah. Acting on this information, the AMLA division, under the leadership of Datuk Muhammed Hasbullah Ali, conducted the first raid in Pahang. The operation uncovered a series of unlicensed processing plants that had been operating covertly since the previous year.
Elaborating on the syndicate's methods, Muhammed Hasbullah revealed that these illegal factories were importing E-Waste from abroad. The waste was then processed locally into metal ingots, which were exported overseas for profits, amounting to millions of ringgit. The process of incinerating E-Waste, however, posed significant environmental risks to nearby communities.
"These factories were often situated within oil palm plantations and forest reserves, and they operated at night to avoid detection," Muhammed Hasbullah explained during a press conference. He added that the police force's manpower during the raids included personnel from the General Operations Force.
The raids led to the arrest of 55 individuals aged between 30 and 50. Among those apprehended were 10 locals suspected to be the landowners of the sites where these illegal processing facilities were established. "We are still in the process of identifying several other individuals, including the factory owners," Muhammed Hasbullah noted.
In addition to the locals, the arrested individuals included foreign nationals, many of whom were illegal migrants. These foreigners were believed to have been brought in for their technical expertise in E-Waste processing.
The operation resulted in the seizure of assets valued at RM43,190,750. Investigations are currently ongoing to determine how these factories managed to operate without detection or interference from local authorities. The success of this operation highlights the importance of vigilance and cooperation between the authorities and local communities in combating environmental crimes.
As investigations continue, the police are working to track down additional suspects and ensure that all those involved in this illicit operation are brought to justice. The case also underscores the broader issue of illegal E-Waste management in Malaysia, which poses severe risks to both public health and the environment. The authorities are committed to ensuring that such activities are thoroughly eradicated, protecting both the environment and the well-being of the citizens.
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