KLANG: Investigations have revealed that several waste shipments at Port Klang 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 showed otherwise.
“In one case, a container was not recorded in the customs information system, meaning it was never properly declared upon entry,” said Port Klang AKPS commander Deputy Comm Datuk Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal.
The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) recently intercepted five shipping containers carrying illegal e-waste, scheduled waste, and commercial refuse, following a joint inspection with Westport, the Port Klang Authority, and the Selangor Department of Environment (DOE).
He said the containers were among 10 inspected on Monday, with the total weight of the seized cargo exceeding 125 tonnes.
“Two containers were found to be carrying scheduled e-waste, including used electronics such as printers, desktops and CPUs.
Another two contained crushed cable wires classified as scheduled waste, while one container carried commercial refuse,” he said.
DCP Nik Ezanee said all five containers have been detained, with Westports securing the cargo pending documentation and analysis by the DOE, and once the necessary notices are issued, the containers will be exported back to their countries of origin.
The seized containers originated from the United States, South Korea, Spain, and Taiwan, with some shipments dating back to 2024 and others arriving as recently as last week.
He stressed that Malaysia will 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.
In a separate operation, AKPS also seized two containers carrying pork worth RM873,000 on Tuesday. DCP Nik Ezanee said the shipments failed to meet veterinary and quarantine requirements set by the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (MAQIS).
“Although the shipment’s declaration and documentation were found in order, investigators discovered that the cutting facility used to process the meat was not approved by MAQIS,” he said.
The seized pork originated from Belgium and forms part of a broader crackdown this month, with total pork seizures reported by AKPS reaching RM2mil.
Earlier interceptions include two containers from Spain on Jan 20, with a combined estimated value of RM660,137 and weight of 49,972kg, and a container from Belgium on Jan 14, valued at RM495,740 with a weight of 27,000kg.
