KLANG: The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) has intercepted five shipping containers carrying illegal electronic waste, scheduled waste and commercial refuse at Port Klang, following a joint inspection with Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd, the Port Klang Authority and the Selangor Environment Department (DOE).
Port Klang AKPS commander Deputy Comm Datuk Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal said the containers were among 10 inspected during an operation on Monday (Jan 26), with the total weight of seized cargo exceeding more than 125 tonnes.
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"Two containers were found to be carrying scheduled e-waste, including used electronic items such as printers, desktops and CPUs.
"Another two contained crushed cable wires categorised as scheduled waste, while one container was carrying commercial waste," he told a press conference at Port Klang West on Wednesday (Jan 28).
He said all five containers have been detained, with Westports securing the cargo pending documentation and analysis by the DOE.
The containers will be sent back to their countries of origin once the necessary notices are issued, he added.
DCP Nik Ezanee said investigations revealed that the shipments involved false cargo declarations, a tactic commonly used to evade enforcement.
"Some of the containers were declared as ABS plastic or aluminium alloy, but inspections found otherwise.
"In one case, a container was not recorded in the Customs information system, meaning it was never properly declared upon entry," he said.
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The containers originated from the United States, South Korea, Spain and Taiwan, with some shipments dating back to 2024, while others arrived as recently as last week.
DCP Nik Ezanee stressed that Malaysia would not allow itself to become a dumping ground for toxic waste, noting that the import of scheduled waste is strictly prohibited under the Environmental Quality Act 1974.
He said AKPS' actions were driven by intelligence-led operations, adding that Port Klang alone handled about 15 million containers last year, averaging approximately 41,000 containers a day.
"As a relatively new agency, AKPS is currently focusing on high-risk consignments based on intelligence.
"We also have hundreds of containers listed for further monitoring and inspection," he said.
He added that AKPS was strengthening its enforcement framework, reviewing standard operating procedures and assessing shipping agents and companies operating at the port to identify potential loopholes.
