Myanmar teen among 48 held in factory raid

Successful operation: Ruslin (second from left) showing passports and money seized during the operation in Klang. — LOW BOON TAT/The Star

PUTRAJAYA: A 16-year old boy from Myanmar is among dozens of illegal foreign workers detained during a raid at an ewaste factory in Klang.

A total of 48 people were arrested, including several Chinese nationals who are board members of the company, as well as the director and owner of the factory.

Of those arrested, 38 were Myanmar nationals, including the male teenager.

Immigration Department director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said the raid was conducted at a factory that processed recycled electronics in Port Klang on Tuesday after a month of surveillance work following public complaints.

“We are also investigating the matter under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act,” he said during a press conference at the Home Ministry here yesterday.

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Only five of those detained, he said, had valid passes to be in the country, adding that the workers were also found to be staying on-site at the factory.

Investigations showed that the factory recovered precious metals from electronic waste, which would then be resold for profit in local and overseas markets.

“They have been in operation for quite some time – around two years,” said Ruslin.

Immigration officers also seized RM688,900 in cash, which he described as “odd”.

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“According to what we currently know, the money is believed to have been intended to pay their workers,” he said.

Two Malaysians have been issued notices to report to the department to have their statements recorded.

“All detainees have been placed at the Bukit Jalil depot,” he said, adding that the detainees were aged between 16 and 78.

Ruslin said that as of the afternoon of March 19, a total of 16,824 people have registered themselves under the Migrant Repatriation Programme, which enables undocumented foreigners who willingly came forward to be sent back to their home countries without being prosecuted.

“A total of 11,943 have been sent back to their home countries,” he said, adding that the rest would also be sent back soon.