Seberang perai: Police seized various processing items and electronic component waste (e-waste) worth RM3.37 million in a raid on a premises through Ops Hazard in the Seberang Perai Selatan area on Friday (Feb 20). General Operations Force (GOF) Northern Brigade Commander SAC Balveer Singh Mahindar Singh said the 11 am operation was conducted by a police team from the Intelligence Branch of the GOF Northern Brigade Headquarters, which resulted in the arrest of a man believed to be the owner of the premises.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the operation was carried out as a result of intelligence gathered regarding a premises suspected of conducting plastic waste and e-waste processing activities without the approval of the authorities. The premises was found to have installed and operated several plastic processing facilities without notification and approval from the Department of Environment (DOE), as stated in a statement by Balveer Singh.

The raid was done in collaboration with the Penang DOE, the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Seberang Perai Selatan Police Headquarters. Balveer Singh further explained that the team found a large amount of e-waste stored in jumbo bags, as well as in drums containing contaminated oil.

The seizure involved facilities and machinery used to process plastic waste, seven jumbo bags containing materials suspected to be e-waste, 20 jumbo bags filled with suspected mixed e-waste and scrap metal, 32 empty metal drums, and one drum containing contaminated oil. The total value of the seized items is estimated at RM3.37 million.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the premises had been operating since early last year as a site for processing plastic materials and storing additional e-waste without the necessary approvals from the DOE and MBSP. It is believed that the suspect obtained plastic waste from semiconductor factories in the surrounding area, utilizing the facility to process plastic materials and plastic pellets before they were exported.

The case has been handed over to the Penang DOE for further investigation under Section 18 (1) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974.