KUANTAN – Elite security forces have dealt a major blow to illegal environmental processing networks operating in the eastern region. Specifically, the General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade launched an impactful illegal e-waste factory raid on a premises in Gambang. The specialized afternoon operation resulted in the arrest of a local manager and the immediate seizure of industrial items valued at over RM6.48 million.
Brigade Commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Radzi Hussain confirmed the details of the raid. The multi-agency sting was executed by the GOF 7th Battalion intelligence unit following days of precise field monitoring. Officers moved into the facility with direct technical backup from the Pahang Department of Environment (DOE), the Kuantan City Council, and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living.
Multi-Agency Blitz Uncovers Massive Electronics Stash
The enforcement team uncovered a massive logistical network hidden inside the unlicensed warehouse. For instance, a 27-year-old Malaysian man claiming to be the site supervisor failed to show any legal permits or registration forms for the commercial cargo. Inside the complex, authorities discovered 20 tonnes of unsorted electronic scrap materials stacked in large commercial piles. The sheer volume of hazardous items required specialized containment vehicles to move them safely from the property.
Furthermore, the full breakdown of the confiscated items highlights the massive scale of the illicit operation. The haul included five jumbo sacks of computer motherboards, 15 massive sacks of loose electronic components, and 550 kilograms of copper wire. Teams also discovered high-pressure sodium vapour lamps, industrial switchgears, 8,000 litres of toxic transformer oil, and 400 litres of diesel fuel. Therefore, the total calculated value of the confiscated goods reached an exact sum of RM6,489,340.
Environmental Safety Focus After Secret Supply Lines Exposed
Initial police tracking indicates that the illegal hub functioned as a temporary stripping location for an outside enterprise. For example, investigators found that the electronics belonged to a company based in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan. The syndicates smuggled the parts into Pahang to take advantage of the remote warehouse space for quiet component dismantling. The dismantled raw precious metals would then be sent back across state lines to avoid environmental oversight.
Meanwhile, federal agencies are stepping up their legal responses to prevent hazardous toxic leaks near rural residential areas. Authorities are investigating the case under multiple laws, including the Control of Supplies Act 1961, the Environmental Quality Act 1974, and local business licensing bylaws. The local city council has officially seized the entire property to shut down operations permanently. Ultimately, this successful illegal e-waste factory raid emphasizes Malaysia’s rigid stand against unauthorized international waste dumping.
