SHAH ALAM, May 26 — Shipping companies involved in bringing in containers of illegally imported electronic waste (e-waste) are given a month to return the shipments to their countries of origin.
The Star reported that Port Klang Border Control and Protection Agency commander Datuk Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal said extensions may be considered depending on the circumstances.
“Our mandate is to ensure these e-waste shipments are taken out of the country and returned to where they came from,” he said.
Shipping liners found to have brought in containers using false declarations must bear responsibility for sending them back with proper documentation.
Ezanee added that 295 out of 559 containers inspected at Port Klang between January and April this year were found to be carrying e-waste, weighing a combined 7,028,008kg.
Integrated operations involving multiple enforcement agencies are conducted based on intelligence gathered on suspicious shipments entering the port.
“Such cases often involved false declarations by importers or shipping companies,” he said.
Once the Environment Department verifies the contents as e-waste, the case is referred to the Customs Department, which then issues instructions for the containers to be re-exported to their countries of origin.
Seized containers are not allowed to leave the port area; storage is managed by port operators while authorities complete enforcement procedures.
Ezanee noted that March recorded the highest number of inspections this year, involving 253 containers, of which 165 contained e-waste weighing 3,790,752kg. Most of the recently seized containers arrived between December and January.
Since the establishment of the Port Klang E-Waste Joint Task Force, 55 containers have already been shipped out of the country.
Enforcement agencies continue to face manpower and logistical constraints, including limited facilities, field assets and skilled personnel, in tackling illegal e-waste imports.
“We need time to equip our personnel with adequate training and skills. We are now gradually upgrading our systems as well,” he said.
