The Pahang Customs Department is proving to be a formidable force in Malaysia's ongoing battle against smuggling, striking yet again with the recent interception of seven containers packed with electronic waste (e-waste) and aluminium scrap worth an estimated MYR 4.4 million (USD 937,200) at Port Klang, Selangor.
The high-stakes operation, carried out in collaboration with the Selangor Department of Environment (DoE), exposed the importer's attempt to dodge regulations by falsely declaring the e-waste as "copper concentrate" to avoid the required import permit. State Customs Director Mohd Asri Seman confirmed that further investigations revealed the shipments lacked both proper permits and accurate customs declarations.
"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," said State Customs Director Mohd Asri Seman.
The first raid, conducted at 1:15 pm at North Port, led to the seizure of three containers loaded with 46,726 kilograms of e-waste, valued at nearly MYR 700,890 (USD 165,800). A follow-up raid uncovered four more containers containing 105,760 kilograms of aluminium scrap, estimated to be worth MYR 3.7 million (USD 877,000). Once again, the smugglers had attempted to deceive authorities by misdeclaring the goods in a bold effort to slip them into the country undetected.
Officers grew suspicious after reviewing shipping documents that claimed the materials originated from South America and Japan, an inconsistency that ultimately triggered the seizure. Asri emphasised that importing e-waste into Malaysia is not an open-door affair; it is conditionally prohibited and strictly requires prior approval from the Director-General of the DoE. Both smuggling attempts are now under investigation under Section 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act 1967, which carries stiff penalties including fines of up to RM500,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
However, this is not the first time that Pahang Customs Department has busted such illegal activities.
In May 2025, customs officials in both Malaysia and Thailand seized containers carrying hundreds of tonnes of illegally imported e-scrap from the United States, following a tip-off from the US-based nonprofit Basel Action Network (BAN). Since the beginning of the year, Malaysia's Department of Environment has uncovered 122 containers of unapproved e-waste shipments, a stark reminder of the scale of the problem, as highlighted in a joint statement from BAN and Malaysia's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability.
Adding to the complexity of these smuggling attempts is the strategic importance of Port Klang, Selangor's bustling maritime hub. As the country's largest and busiest port, Port Klang serves not only as a vital gateway for trade but also as a key centre for aluminium storage and trading. It plays a central role in the global aluminium supply chain, particularly within the London Metal Exchange (LME) network, with significant volumes of both registered and unregistered (shadow) aluminium stocks held there. The port also hosts processing facilities for several industry players, including aluminium extrusion scrap, plate scrap, engine transmission scrap, and used beverage can (UBC) scrap.
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Image Source: BERNAMA TV / X
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