Bukit Aman internal security and public order department director Azmi Abu Kassim said police are focusing their investigation on the companies operating the factories.

“So far, we have not been able to conclude if these factories are operating as a syndicate, but further investigation is being carried out,” Bernama reported him as saying.

Azmi said most of the factories raided received supplies of e-waste smuggled in by sea.

He said one of the factories raided in Sarawak obtained e-waste from a local supplier who collected the waste from the public.

He said collaboration between the various enforcement agencies is vital to combat the illegal factories and that police and the environment department are ready to cooperate with other agencies to close the factories down.

During Op Hazard carried out nationwide on Feb 15, the environment department inspected 47 factories and found 30 to be operating illegally.