Recently, a raid at an ewaste factory in Klang resulted in the detention of 48 illegal foreign workers, one of whom is a 16-year-old boy from Myanmar.
This operation also led to the arrest of several Chinese nationals who serve as board members of the company, as well as the factory’s director and owner.
Of the 48 individuals detained, 38 were from Myanmar, including the teenage boy.
Datuk Ruslin Jusoh, the director-general of the Immigration Department, revealed that the raid took place at a factory in Port Klang that specializes in processing recycled electronics, following a month of surveillance prompted by public complaints.
During a press conference at the Home Ministry, Ruslin mentioned that the matter is being investigated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act.
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Out of the detainees, only five possessed valid documents to be in the country, and it was discovered that many of the workers lived on-site at the factory.
Evidence suggests that the factory extracted precious metals from electronic waste, which were then sold for profit both locally and internationally.
“They have been operating for approximately two years,” stated Ruslin.
Additionally, immigration officials seized RM688,900 in cash, which Ruslin found to be peculiar.
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He mentioned, “As per our current understanding, the money was meant for paying the workers.”
Two Malaysians have been requested to provide statements to the department, while all detainees have been placed at the Bukit Jalil depot, with ages ranging from 16 to 78.
Ruslin shared that as of March 19, a total of 16,824 individuals have registered for the Migrant Repatriation Programme, which allows undocumented foreigners to go back to their home countries voluntarily without facing legal consequences.
“11,943 have already been repatriated, and the remaining individuals will follow suit soon,” he added.
