Bukit Aman internal security and public order department director Azmi Abu Kassim said those detained in the raids last Friday comprised two local men, one local woman and three foreign men, aged between 33 and 50.

“Conducted in collaboration with the Construction Industry Development Board and the environment department, the operation targeted companies supplying iron and metal products to the construction sector.

“Inspections uncovered various offences, including failure to present valid standard compliance documents for imported iron and metal products intended for the construction industry,” Bernama quoted him as saying in a statement today.

Azmi said the raids uncovered various metal products classified as end products without valid compliance documents certified by CIDB for domestic construction use.

“Semi-finished iron and metal products suspected to have been illegally imported were also seized,” he said.

The confiscated items include operational equipment, various types of metal products, 8,939 tonnes of industrial iron and steel, five containers, 12 forklifts, 40 gas cylinders and 61 different machines used for processing iron and steel.

He said the woman was released on police bail, while the two local men were remanded for one day and released after questioning. The three foreign men have been remanded until Feb 4.