Illegal precious metal recycling factories raided, RM97mil worth of metals seized

KUALA LUMPUR: Illegal factories recycling precious metals from scrap were busted after a raid led by Bukit Aman.

Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department acting director Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said seven premises were raided on Sept 2 within the Kampung Telok Gong area in Klang.

He said that investigations showed that the factories operated without a license and had brought ewaste into the country by buying them from overseas sellers.

“The waste was then labelled as scrap metal,” he said to a press conference on Wednesday (Sept 4), adding that importing ewaste into the country was illegal.

The waste was then recycled for precious metals before being resold to the local market.

“These unlicensed factories were reaping in millions and were also found to have employed foreigners as workers,” he said.

The operation was jointly conducted with the department’s Wildlife Crime Bureau (WCB) and Special Investigation Intelligence (PSK) with the Department of Environment (DOE) and the Klang Royal City Council.

Among the scrap metal seized included 765,000kg of copper, 16,000kg of aluminium and around 630 sacks of various metals and electronics.

“The net value of all the seizures was estimated to be around RM97,001,460,” he said.

When asked if the premises were all linked, DCP Yusoff said that it was a possibility.

He added that all premises were rented.

A total of five locals and 31 foreigners, all aged between 25 and 60 years old, were arrested.

Investigations showed that the foreigners had expertise in processing e-waste while the locals were acting as coordinators for the operations.