According to a minister, Malaysia has seized 106 containers of harmful electrical waste over the past three months and arrested an unlawful waste transfer syndicate.
Every year, there are tens of millions of tons of e-waste produced regionally, and a lot of used electronics and gadgets can leak dangerous chemicals like plastics and large metals.
Some countries, including Malaysia, have banned the transfer of e- spare, while improper shipments remain a problem.
Between Mar 21 and Jun 19 this month, Malaysian investigators found 106 shipping vessels filled with electronic- waste, officials said on Wednesday ( May 26 ).
The containers may be returned to their countries of origin, according to Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, minister of natural resources and environmental conservation in Malaysia, without giving specifics about where they came from.
He added that a gang that imports drugs was involved.
After inspecting the seized pots on Wednesday at Port Klang, north of the capital Kuala Lumpur, he said,” This gang uses false documents to buy spare for recycling functions.”
What appeared to be mounds of server racks in one vessel that the media saw was contained within it.