Over RM6mil worth of items seized in raid on e-waste processing factory

KUANTAN: The General Operations Force’s southeast brigade detained a man and seized a range of items, including electronic waste (e-waste) components worth over RM6.48 million, during a raid on a factory in Gambang yesterday.

Its commander, Ahmad Radzi Hussain, said the raid, carried out between 3pm and 8pm, was launched after intelligence from the 7th Battalion’s intelligence unit in Kuantan, with support from the Pahang Department of Environment (DOE), Kuantan City Council, and domestic trade and cost of living ministry.

He said a 27-year-old local man who claimed to be the factory manager was detained after failing to produce documents for the items stored on the premises.

“A search of the premises revealed a range of items, including 20 tonnes of e-waste, 40 high-pressure sodium vapour lamps, 30 ring main unit switchgears, 10 intermediate bulk container tanks of 1,000 litres each, 8,000 litres of transformer oil, and 400 litres of diesel.

“The seizure consisted of five jumbo sacks of computer motherboards weighing five tonnes, 15 jumbo sacks of electronic goods weighing 15 tonnes, a 550kg sack of copper, and equipment used for oil suction, alongside other electrical components, with an estimated value of RM6,489,340,” he said in a statement today.

Radzi said preliminary investigations showed that the items belonged to a company based in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan. They were believed to have been transported to the site for dismantling and would have been returned to the company’s premises.

He said the premises were believed to have been used as a temporary storage facility and operated without a valid licence.

Radzi said the items involving diesel were handed over to the domestic trade and cost of living ministry for further action, while the e-waste would be handed over to the Pahang DOE.

Investigations are being carried out under Section 8 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961, Section 38(1) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, and Section 2 of the Business and Industrial Licensing By-Laws 1992.