Tens of millions of tonnes of e-waste are produced globally every year, and many discarded devices and appliances can leak heavy metals, plastics and other toxic chemicals.

Many countries, including Malaysia, have banned the import of e-waste, but weak enforcement and reports of systemic corruption continue to made it an attractive target for unscrupulous brokers.

Malaysia saw more than 7,500 containers of suspected e-waste sent to the country from the United States between January 2023 and February last year, said the Basel Action Network, which works to prevent the dumping of toxic waste by rich, industrialised nations.

Malaysian authorities in February decided to impose a total ban on e-waste imports without exemptions.

From Wednesday "the importation of electronic waste (e-waste) to Malaysia is completely banned at all entry points nationwide," Customs Malaysia director general Amran bin Haji Ahmad said.

The move is "part of efforts to tighten controls on the entry of hazardous waste into the country and to protect the environment", Amran said in a statement.

Authorities have seen successes in recent months in clamping down on e-waste imports.

Special task force officials intercepted 242 tonnes of e-waste during a raid on Monday at Port Klang, Malaysia's biggest and busiest harbour.