KUALA LUMPUR: Some RM96.35mil worth of metal products and equipment were seized after police crippled a syndicate involved in the illegal importation and distribution of uncertified metal products.
Sixty people, including 57 foreigners, were also detained during the special operation.
Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order (KDNKA) department director Comm Datuk Seri Azmi Abu Kassim said the multi-agency operation led by the department's Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Intelligence Investigation (WCB/PSK) unit, saw six factories raided in Johor, Selangor and Melaka on Friday (July 4).
"The facilities were found to be importing, processing, and supplying steel and metal products for the construction sector and other industries without proper documentation," he said in a statement on Saturday (July 5).
Various violations were discovered, including the failure to produce valid Product Certification Documents (PPS) for imported metals intended for construction use, he said.
"Many of the premises were also found employing undocumented foreign workers.
"Three locals and 57 foreigners, aged between 26 and 59, were detained for several offences," he said.
Comm Azmi said using substandard metal products poses a major safety risk to the public and industry.
"These materials must be certified by responsible bodies like the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and Sirim," he said.
Comm Azmi said various metal products and equipment worth RM96.35mil were seized including 11,000 steel rebars, 1,700 wire mesh rods, 1,500 wire rods, 152,830 hollow section steel bars and several industrial machines
The case is being investigated under multiple laws, including Section 33D(1) of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Act 1994, the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Environmental Quality Act 1974.
On a separate matter, Comm Azmi said the WCB/PSK uniy have conducted 161 raids from Jan 1 till July 4 and detained 296 individuals for various smuggling offences.
"The unit also seized RM540.2mil worth of items during the same period," he said.
