Seven illegal factories busted, items worth RM97mil seized

KUALA LUMPUR: Seven illegal factories that recycled precious metals from scrap ewaste and other materials had been busted with Bukit Aman seizing items worth RM97mil.

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

The group was believed to have brought the ewaste into the country by buying them from overseas sellers.

“The waste was then declared as scrap metal,” he said, adding that it was illegal to import ewaste into the country.

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

“They would process electronic materials from computer parts and handphones to obtain precious metals such as gold and copper that could be sold back at a high price.

“These unlicensed factories were reaping in millions and were also found to have employed foreigners as workers,” he told a press conference yesterday.

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.

To a question, DCP Mohd Yusoff said there was a possibility that the seven premises, which were rented, had links with each other.

Five Malaysians and 31 foreigners aged between 25 and 60, had been arrested.

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