Illegal E Waste Factory In Bukit Mertajam Busted 6 Arrested Rm22mil In Materials Seized

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Authorities arrested six suspects, aged between 22 and 55, comprising one Malaysian man, one Chinese man and one Chinese woman and three Myanmar women. - Courtesy picBUKIT MERTAJAM: Authorities have uncovered an illegal electronic waste (e-waste) processing operation in Bukit Mertajam, seizing over RM22 million worth of machinery and materials and arresting six people of various nationalities.
The enforcement operation, codenamed Op Hazard, was conducted by the 2nd Battalion of the General Operations Force (PGA) in collaboration with the state Department of Environment (DOE) as well as the Seberang Prai Tengah district police Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department and Criminal Investigation Department.
The raid, carried out between 9am and 6pm yesterday, targetted a factory located at Jalan Bukit Tambun in Juru here, following three weeks of surveillance.
General Operations Force northern brigade commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Shahrum Hashim said the facility was found to be illegally processing electronic components and waste materials.
"During the operation, enforcement teams discovered large quantities of e-waste and heavy machinery used for illegal processing activities.
"Among the items seized were five forklifts, one waste filtration machine, 10 waste washing machines, one extruder machine, one compressor, approximately 454,000kg of e-waste in various stages of processing, RM6,147 in cash and one trailer truck carrying 20,000kg of dismantled e-waste.
"The total estimated value of all seized assets is RM22,336,167," he said in a statement today.
Shahrum said authorities arrested six suspects, aged between 22 and 55, comprising one Malaysian man, one Chinese man and one Chinese woman and three Myanmar women.
He said the suspects are believed to have been operating the illegal factory, which had been running for several weeks.
The case is being investigated under Section 18(1A) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, which carries penalties of a fine between RM25,000 and RM100,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
Additionally, the foreign suspects are being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which provides for a fine of up to RM10,000, imprisonment up to five years, or both, as well as possible caning.
All arrested individuals have been handed over to the Seberang Prai Tengah Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation, while the seized items have been transferred to the state DOE.
"Enforcement operations will continue across Perak, Penang, Kedah and Perlis to combat illegal e-waste processing activities," he said.
Shahrum reaffirmed PGA's commitment to strict enforcement, warning that the police "would not compromise in upholding the law."
The public are urged to cooperate with authorities by reporting any suspicious or illegal activities related to environmental offences. - NST

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