Pahang Customs foils RM4.4mil e-waste, aluminium scrap smuggling attempts

New Straits Times

2 days ago

BENTONG: The Pahang Customs Department has thwarted attempts to smuggle seven containers filled with electronic waste (e-waste) and aluminium scrap worth approximately RM4.4 million in two separate raids at Port Klang, Selangor.
The operations, carried out simultaneously on May 21, were part of a joint effort involving the Bentong Customs enforcement division and the Selangor Department of Environment (DoE).
State Customs director Mohd Asri Seman said the first raid at 1.15pm uncovered three containers at North Port containing 46,726kg of e-waste, valued at about RM700,890.
"The importer had falsely declared the e-waste as 'copper concentrate' to evade the requirement for an import permit. Further investigations revealed the materials were brought in without the necessary permits or proper customs declarations," he said at a press conference here today.
The second raid led to the discovery of four containers holding 105,760kg of aluminium scrap, worth an estimated RM3.7 million. These too were falsely declared as other goods in an attempt to smuggle them into the country.
Asri said authorities became suspicious after reviewing documents submitted by the importer, which claimed the materials originated from South America and Japan.
He said the importation of e-waste is conditionally prohibited and requires an approval letter from the DoE director-general.
Both cases are being investigated under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967. Upon conviction, offenders may be fined up to RM500,000, face imprisonment of up to five years, or both.