Massive operation in Segamat uncovers illegal e-waste ring, arrests 56 suspects, seizes tonnes of materials
A major e-waste and scrap processing syndicate in Johor has been dismantled following a high-impact raid by Malaysia’s General Operations Force (GOF), with seizures exceeding RM190 million in value and the arrest of 56 individuals.
Massive Seizure in Segamat
On June 16, the 5th Battalion of the General Operations Force (GOF) launched Op Hazard 2.0, a coordinated raid on a premises along Jalan Batu Anam, Buloh Kasap, Segamat. The operation, carried out alongside the Department of Environment (DOE), Immigration Department, and Segamat Municipal Council, targeted a well-established syndicate allegedly involved in illegal e-waste and scrap processing.
Commanding officer Supt Salehin Sulaiman confirmed that 56 people were arrested, including two Malaysians—a lorry driver and a female clerk—while the rest were believed to be foreign nationals.
Illegal E-Waste Trade Uncovered
Authorities seized a staggering 5,920 tonnes of electronic waste, 1,031 tonnes of metal, and 9.45 tonnes of assorted plastics from the site. The operation also confiscated 23 forklifts, 42 machines, and one trailer lorry, with total seizure value reaching RM190,715,900.
Salehin stated that the syndicate had been operating for nearly a year and played a central role in illegal e-waste activity in the Segamat district. He confirmed the operation has “successfully crippled a syndicate network involved in scrap and e-waste processing.”
Separate Raid Nets Illegal Migrants
In an unrelated but concurrent operation on April 14, GOF officers also detained 25 undocumented migrants at an oil palm plantation in Ladang Tumbuk, Selangor. The group, comprising 16 men and nine women, was believed to have recently entered Malaysia via unregulated sea routes. None were able to present valid identification documents.
The detainees were handed over to the Kuala Langat District Police Headquarters (IPD) for investigation under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Coordinated Enforcement, Widening Impact
The raids mark a significant escalation in inter-agency collaboration to curb illegal environmental and immigration activities. With e-waste posing serious ecological threats, Malaysia’s aggressive crackdown signals its intent to enforce compliance across industrial and environmental sectors.
The dual operations also highlight concerns about border control and illegal labor—often tied to underground industries such as unlicensed recycling facilities.
The dismantling of the RM190 million e-waste syndicate in Johor demonstrates Malaysia’s firm stance against environmental crime and illegal enterprise. The operation’s scale—and the number of foreign workers involved—also underscores the regional implications for border enforcement, labor exploitation, and environmental integrity. For Southeast Asia, where transboundary waste is a growing concern, such decisive action sets a critical precedent.
Sources: Bernama (2025) , Free Malaysia Today (2025)
Keywords: GOF Raid Johor, E-Waste Syndicate, Scrap Processing Johor, Segamat Operation, Illegal Immigrants Malaysia, RM190 Million Seizure
