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New Straits Times

[UPDATED] Toxic take-down: Cops seize over RM500mil in e-waste crackdown

KUALA LUMPUR: Authorities have seized over half a billion ringgit worth of e-waste products and equipment in the Federal Police's latest nationwide crackdown on illegal e-waste processing plants. The Inland Revenue Board (IRB), one of the supporting agencies involved in the operation, estimated that these premises had also evaded more than RM500 million in taxes. Bukit Aman's Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Azmi Abu Kassim said a total of 453 people were arrested during the most recent enforcement round, which targeted 57 premises on June 16. "A total of 12 agencies took part in the operation, dubbed Op Hazard 2.0, which was conducted from June 16 to today. It was led by the police in collaboration with the Department of Environment and the IRB. "We estimate seizures as well as losses to government revenue from this latest operation at RM1.003 billion, comprising RM240 million in e-waste, RM182 million in e-waste components, RM50 million in scrap materials, and RM32 million in other equipment," he said, adding that the IRB had estimated at least RM500 million in tax evasion by the operators. Azmi said that 916 people were screened during the integrated operation, resulting in 453 arrests — including 382 men, 70 women, and one minor — aged between 16 and 70. "From Jan 1, 2024 to till today, we have recorded total seizures valued at RM5.18 billion, with 1,061 arrests and 167 investigation papers opened in connection with e-waste activities under Op E-Waste 1.0, Op E-Waste 2.0, Op Hazard 1.0, and now Op Hazard 2.0," he said. The 57 raided premises were located in Selangor (16), Sabah (12), Kedah and Sarawak (6 each), Perak and Johor (5 each), Penang (4), Kelantan (2) and Terengganu (1) Of the 453 people arrested, only 41 were Malaysians. The rest were foreigners from China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Nepal. Azmi said intelligence had been obtained on more premises allegedly operating illegally, but on the day of the raids, many of them were found to be closed. "This raises concerns as to whether some operators may have been tipped off in advance," he said. He added that the police would be consulting the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate the possibility of insider leaks.