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Special Task Force On Organised Crime

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Active
  
January 1, 2014

Branch
  
Royal Malaysia Police

Size
  
Varies

Country
  
Malaysia

Type
  
Special forces

Special Task Force On Organised Crime

Role
  
Domestic counter-terrorism and law enforcement

Special Task Force On Organised Crime (STAFOC) (Malay: Pasukan Tugas Khas Melawan Jenayah Terancang) are the specialized operation armed response units of the Royal Malaysia Police.

Contents

The comparable units of the RMP are the Pasukan Gerakan Khas and UNGERIN.

Organization

The organization of special police forces was formed following the Home Ministry’s meeting with the RMP on August 22, 2013 and formed in January 01, 2014 to meet the challenges of a more sophisticated and violent trend in organised crime. The best in criminal investigation will be in the frontline as police take a major step to fight organised crime. 400 officers, led by a Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) Dato' Razarudin Bin Hussain, will be equally divided and placed with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Narcotics Crimes Investigations Department (NCID). They operate on the concept of "Intelligence Led Policing and Aggressive Action on Organised Crime". They will focus on serious crimes including illegal syndicates, gangsterism, gambling, vice, human trafficking, prostitution and drug gangs. STAFOC will operate directly from Bukit Aman, but will be deployed throughout the country to be part of raids and tactical operations.

More than 20 of the force comprised experienced officers, many of whom have been involved in special missions such as the invasion of Lahad Datu in February 2013. The Lahad Datu incident saw 200 special tactical officers sent to Sabah, leaving many states without such expertise.

Training

Any police officer (men and women) handpicked from various departments is eligible to apply for service for STAFOC unit. They undergo training with the elite 69 Commandos and urban counter-terrorist division Special Actions Unit (UTK).

Missions

  • October 4, 2014 - STAFOC is now involved in efforts to track down the suspects, believed to be Latin Americans, who masterminded the syndicate that hacked Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) in the country.
  • March 13, 2015 - A 27-year-old man, believed to be a triad member, was shot dead by STAFOC in a shootout in Lencongan Barat, Bandar Languna Merbok, Kedah. The suspect, K. Sujenthiran, believed to be a member of Gang 35, opened fire after a team attempted to get close to his black Proton Wira Aeroback before the officers returned fire in self-defense. Police recover the Czech-made of 9mm Luger semi-automatic handgun from the dead suspect.
  • March 31, 2015 - Combined officers of STAFOC and Perak State CID shot dead three criminals. Two firearms were seized during the gunfight in Kampung Simee, Ipoh. Three suspects were highly dangerous and wanted for robbery in the city and its surrounding areas. While police tried to approach the suspects' car, they sped off and a chase ensued before the shootout.
  • August 4, 2015 - STAFOC officers arrested three suspects of a human trafficking syndicate in an operation at Rawang, Selangor. Three pregnant women and a baby were rescued as a result of the raid.
  • August 11, 2015 - Perak State Police Contingent, with the help of Bukit Aman STAFOC, raided a weapon storage site. They seized five shotguns and arrested 21 suspects from Egypt, Bangladesh, Myanmar and locals at Taiping, Perak. Police also seized 13 lorries and a stolen Hilux.
  • August 11, 2015 - At 3:15pm, a team of officers and members of the Kedah CID D9, along with Bukit Aman STAFOC, arrested two suspects at a parking lot on Sungai Petani, Kedah. The arrest led to the seizure of a handgun, 17 9mm rounds, scythe, heroin, shabu, and various other drugs and weapons. Further investigation led to the seizure of two airsoft guns at a suspect's house.
  • August 13, 2015 - Police busted a syndicate that dismantles stolen vehicles to be sold as spare parts on the global market at Trong, Perak. The raid was conducted by STAFOC and Perak CID arrested 22 men, which included ten foreigners and one Egyptian, suspected as the buyer of illegal spare parts. All suspects will be investigated under Section 379 Penal Code for theft.
  • September 16, 2015 - STAFOC members were involved with investigating the whereabouts of Kevin Morais, a deputy public prosecutor who was kidnapped on 4 September. His body was found cemented in an oil drum along a secluded pathway at Persiaran Subang Mewah, USJ 1, Subang Jaya at 6am.
  • October 15, 2015 - STAFOC team crippled a contract killing syndicate by arresting two men and seized four handguns at two separate arrests at Skudai, Johor. It is believed that the syndicate was closely linked to the Gang 21 secret society, which is also involved in other criminal activities such as drug dealing. With the successful arrest, it is possible that more arrests will be conducted soon.
  • December 2, 2015 - STAFOC team were involved in assisting Gombak and Selangor CID teams in patrolling Persiaran Bukit Takun following a spate of robberies and house break-ins. A high speed car chase ensued and STAFOC returned fire when the occupants tried to shoot at them, killing one of the suspects. The driver managed to flee.
  • July 14, 2016 - Police shot dead a suspect involved in the murder of four family members, including a 2 years old kid, in a shootout near Air Hitam, Penang. Initially police believed that the suspect had already left the island. Upon receiving a tip off, a STAFOC team deployed to investigate, which led to the gunfight, killing the suspect.
  • July 16, 2016 - Police solved June 6th shooting case at Taman OUG which saw a real estate agent killed and her 8 year old seriously injured with the arrest of 8 suspect connected with the murder. STAFOC teams has built up the lead on all 8 suspects and arrested them, including the pistol used during the murder.
  • February 3, 2016 - STAFOC teams arrested 34 members of Gang 36 syndicate in a raid dubbed Ops Cantas Khas, in which they confiscated 6 pistols, 1 rifle, bullets, and 10kg of drugs. This seize also opened new leads on the murder of Royal Malaysian Custom's Deputy Director General, Datuk Shaharuddin Ibrahim. The Deputy D-G has served with the Customs for over 30 years, and has earned him the moniker "Mr Clean" and was murdered a year away from retirement at April 26, 2013.
  • February 13, 2017 - A high profile murder involving the estranged brother of North Korean premier, Kim Jong-Nam who were assaulted by two women at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (klia2). STAFOC was tasked to investigate the murder. The result was a Vietnamese women who was arrested on the next day, Đoàn Thị Hương, an Indonesian women who were arrested on the 16th February, Siti Aisyah, and a North Korean national Ri Jong-Chol, who is believed to have prepared the toxic used in the murder. STAFOC teams too were assigned to protect the mortuary where the body of Kim Jong-Nam were kept, escorted all suspects from prison to the courthouse, and during the deportation of Ri Jong-Chol.
  • STING

    Special Tactics and Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING) (Malay: Pasukan Khas Taktikal dan Perisikan Narkotik) are specialized to fight against organized drug lords as well as local and international drug smuggling syndicates. Formed January 30, 2014 and led by SAC Dato' Roslan Bin Wahid, an elite forces is made up of about 200 highly trained personnels (comprised 61 senior officers, 138 rank in files and one civil servants), and to date 60 of the best anti-narcotics officers, including 10 female officers, They will target the "sharks" of the drug trades, not a "small fry".

    Formed in January 30, 2014, STING has given the police a big boost in the war against drugs in the country.

    Missions

  • February 9, 2015 - Combined STING and Penang Narcotics Crime Investigation Department team discovered an illegal drug processing lab. They seized heroin, kafein, various chemicals and drug processing instruments at Lebuh Sungai Pinang, Penang. Three men and a woman aged between ages 35 and 57 were arrested at the condominium. The team seized 48.1 kilograms of heroin, 1.99 kilograms of syabu, and five luxurious cars owned by members of the syndicate, which included Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen Beetle,nd Mitsubishi Attrage and a Vespa type motorcycle, as well as cash worth over RM790,000.
  • May 26, 2015 - STING operatives busted a drug processing laboratory and seized drugs worth RM10 million following the arrest of eight international drug syndicate members. Aged 29 to 43, they comprised five locals, including a woman, two Sri Lanka nationals and an Indian national around Klang Valley in Wangsa Maju, Damansara, Seri Kembangan and Sepang. In the seven raids, police busted a house in Sepang, which was used as a synthetic drug laboratory and chemical storage. They arrested two men. The overall drugs seized were 40.36 kilogrammes, namely syabu (34.76 kg), ecstasy pills (5.6 kg) with chemicals and processing equipment, worth a total of RM10 million.
  • June 23, 2015 - STING arrested 4 suspects of African descent involved with drug distribution in a raid at Sungai Buluh and Damansara. The arrest also seized 7 kg of cocaine and 800g of methamphetamine.
  • July 16, 2015 - STING team, with cooperation from Bukit Aman Narcotics CID and the Justice Investigation Bureau of Taiwan, arrested 8 men, 5 of whom were from Taiwan, at a drug lab near Pandan Indah. The seizure was worth RM20mil. Among the drugs that were seized were Erimin 5 and cocaine with a combined weight of 207.8 kg.
  • July 21, 2015 - Penang NCID with STING teams busted a drug processing and trafficking ring run by two of Penang's most notorious gangs, Sio Sam Ong and Gang 04, and seized 24.75 kg of heroin, worth RM1.5mil of drugs and cash. Three Sio Sam Ong members in charge of the trafficking were arrested while two Gang 04 members were nabbed as police unearthed a drug lab in Bayan Lepas.
  • July 26, 2015 - Bukit Aman STING teams arrested 22 Pakistani citizens at Desa Melawati and Kuala Lumpur, and seized 34 kg of heroin during the raid.
  • July 31, 2015 - STING and Penang NCID arrested 3 suspects in Penang, and seized more than 10 kg of heroin, 5 kg of Syabu, 6 pistols and 1 rifle. A raid later in the day arrested a further 14 suspects, who werefrom Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand, and locals. They were all involved in the drug distribution syndicate.
  • August 10, 2015 - STING arrested 9 suspects believed to be syndicate members for a drug distribution ring at Bukit Kayu Hitam and Sungai Petani, Kedah. The arrest led to the seizure of 160 ganja packs for distribution on the local market.
  • August 21, 2015 - STING uncovered a drug lab and seized RM15m worth of liquid syabu at Bukit Mertajam, Penang. The raid also captured 5 syndicate members, 3 locals and 2 Iranian nationals. The seized liquid syabu weighed 324 kg.
  • August 24, 2015 - STING raided 6 drug dens and arrested 81 addicts in Pokok Sena, Kedah. The raid, tagged Ops Sarang II, was a joint operation involving 160 officers and personnel from STING, state NCID, and other government agencies. 81 drug addicts (78 men and 3 women) were arrested with various drug offences during the operation. 9.66g of heroin, 2.27g of syabu, 1.3 kg of cannabis, 2 kg of ketum leaves and 2 liters of ketum juice were seized during the raid.
  • August 28, 2015 - An international drug trafficking syndicate was busted when STING arrested 3 Nigerians and 1 local in a 3-part raid. 58 compressed slabs of ganja worth RM500,000 were seized.
  • October 3, 2015 - A drug trafficking ring consisting of 14 Africans who posed as students was busted. STING teams raided 8 places, which led to the crippling of the syndicate. The method of smuggling drugs was through dolls, shoes, and handbags. Police also seized 16 kg syabu, 250g of heroin, and 75g of cocaine. Their street value was estimated around RM5 million. All suspects will be investigated under Section 39(B) Dangerous Drug Act 1952.
  • October 5, 2015 - Bukit Aman STING team arrested a drug kingpin and seized 469 kg of ganja valued around RM1 million. Police subsequently arrested another 3 members of the syndicate and seized 2 MPV vehicles. The case is being investigated under Section 39B Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and will be subjected to a mandatory death sentence if convicted.
  • October 12, 2015 - 173 men were arrested for drug-related offences during a raid code named Ops Sarang, conducted at Kuantan with help from various agencies including Bukit Aman STING. 167g of heroin, 5g of ganja, 112 yaba pills and RM2000 cash were among seized during the raid. 5 dealers were among the arrested; 4 of them were investigated under Section 39A(2) Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, and the other under Section 39A(1) Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
  • November 2, 2015 - Police STING teams seized 200 kg of ecstasy mixture and arrested 15 individuals in two separate raids in Jerantut, Pahang and Kuala Lumpur.
  • November 5, 2015 - Police arrested 4 men, including 3 Nigerians, and seized 46kg of drugs worth RM5m in a raid at Puchong. STING personnel discovered a pack of drugs hidden inside a woman's handbag which was believed to be smuggled into the country from the People's Republic of China.
  • November 23, 2015 - STING teams seized 4 pistols, 2 shotguns and 1 airsoft gun in a raid.
  • November 23, 2015 - Police busted a syndicate attempting to transport RM2m worth of syabu, using the Segway. STING personnels seized 10.2kg worth of syabu and arrested two men from Nigeria and Republic De Guinea on November 23. The raid were conducted around Kajang.
  • June 2, 2016 - STING officers arrested 2 suspects and seized 182kg of drugs in Jelutong, Selangor.
  • August 13, 2016 - STING officers busted a drug lab operating at a upmarket Ampang neighborhood and arrested 12 people (6 Indian nationals) and seized 15kg of syabu and a Glock pistol. The raid is based on intelligence in which the suspects were nabbed in a series of raid, leading up to the drug lab. KL Fire Department is called in to assist with dismantling and moving hazardous materials used for the drug lab.
  • December 8, 2016 - Malaysian police crippled a China-linked ketamine distribution syndicate and uncovered a drug lab in Bukit Jalil. A raid spearheaded by STING seized 210kg of China-made ketamine, and other drugs syabu, Eramine-5, ecstasy, and yaba pills worth RM15.5 million. Initial investigations revealed that the ketamine was intended for the local market, and could supply up to 540,000 addicts. All detained will be investigated under Section 39B, Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
  • December 17, 2016 - Federal police's Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING) detained 87 people, including 2 foreigner and screened up to 150 people in a raid targeting entertainment outlets. Several types of drug, Eramine-5, ecstasy and ketamine were seized during the operation. The case is being investigated under Section 39A(1) and 39A(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the punishment of imprisonment not less than 5 years, and not less than 10 stroke of caning.
  • January 9, 2017 - In a massive 3-day joint operation codenamed Ops Tapis Bersepadu sees police, federal STING unit, state Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID), Immigration department, Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and National Anti-Drugs Agency (NADA) conducted checks on 452 individuals from various countries, and arrested 151 in the operation. The operation saw teams seizing heroin, meth, ketum amd marijuana valued at RM2,929, an MPV with a fake Singaporean registration, and 974 smuggled alcoholic beverages.
  • January 9, 2017 - The federal police unit, Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING) hauled more than 70kg of drugs after it busted a drug lab and raided several location in Johor Bharu and Subang Jaya. 11 people were arrested in the raid.
  • January 18, 2017 - Bukit Aman's Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING) seized RM6.7 million worth of drugs in a two-day raid at five different location here at Kuala Lumpur. However, this success was marred by the fact that 7 out of 8 traffickers caught were policemen, including an Assistant Superintendent (ASP) attached with the Bukit Aman's Criminal Investigation Department (CID). 75kg of syabu worth RM5.25 million and 7.4 million of heroin base worth RM740,000 were seized during the operation.
  • February 1, 2017 - Bukit Aman's NCID and STING teams arrested a syndicate member carrying 10 packets of tea bag with RM700,000 worth of drugs stuffed inside it at an ambush near Jelutong. Police believe that the suspect was going to hand over the drugs to another syndicate member at the time of the arrest. Case is being investigated under Section 39B Dangerous Drugs Act, which carries a mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
  • STAGG

    Special Task Force for Anti-Vice, Gambling and Gangsterism (STAGG) (Malay: Pasukan Khas Anti Maksiat, Perjudian dan Gengsterisme) is a specialized unit tasked to target international and local underworld groups and gambling syndicates. The group joined the Special Tactics and Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING) and Special Task Force on Organised Crime (STAFOC), which were formed to bust drug rings and serious crimes. Formed in December 7, 2014, the squad comprised 61 senior officers, 139 rank in files and 20 civil servants, with Deputy Commissioner Dato' Mohd Rodwan Bin Mohd Yusof as its commander.

    Missions

  • January 31, 2015 - STAGG and Penang Police Contingent Headquarters busted online gambling at Lorong Madras, Persiaran Gurney and Pulau Tikus. In the three-hour operation and ended at 2 am, police seized 190 simulator machines with gambling features worth RM950,000, including cash amounting to RM15,949 and tokens worth RM44,980 in raids at five family entertainment centres. One hundred and seventy-two customers and 28 workers of the outlets aged between 18 and 70 were arrested.
  • February 15, 2016 - Combined STAGG and Johore Police Contingent Headquarters team raided 21 illegal online gambling dens in the three-hour operation which began at 10.30pm. The operation was carried out at various locations in Johor Baru involving more than 100 police personnel comprising a team from Iskandar Puteri, Seri Alam, and the Johor Baru Central district police headquarters. They seized gambling simulator machines, electronic equipment worth more than RM1 million, as well as RM8,889 cash in several raids at Nusa Perintis Street, which is a commercial area in Gelang Patah, was fronting as a frozen food business operator. 37 online gambling operators as well as 103 punters, some of whom were foreign workers were arrested in an operations.
  • December 15, 2016 - Police federal unit Special Task force for anti-vice, gambling, and gangsterism (STAGG) busted 3 major gambling syndicates with the arrest of 20 agents in simultaneous raids at 14 premises. Cash total up to RM11,385, 32 cellphones, a printer, 2 mobile printer, 14 calculators, and 29 betting slip were seized during the operation. Initial investigation shows that the 3 syndicates are able to process bets up to RM15,000 daily, and RM180,000 monthly.
  • January 26, 2017 - Police "unearthed" about 38 foreign female guest relations officer (GRO) who were hiding in underground rooms during a raid at an entertainment outlet in Medan Ipoh here. The operation were conducted by Bukit Aman's STAGG saw GRO hiding in underground room, which uses hydraulic systems to lock the metal door. The fire department were called in to assist in breaking open the place. 15 employees and 15 customers were arrested to facilitate investigations.
  • Uniforms

    STAFOC/STING/STAGG members always operate in standard black or blue tactical uniforms worn by the other counter-terrorism forces. Fire retardant balaclavas are often used to protect their faces as well as protect their identities. Both units commonly use the standard American PASGT helmets or Marine Ops-Core helmets. These tactical vests are labelled with "POLIS" (meaning "POLICE" in Malays), or RMP insignia, to allow for easy identification.

    Weapons

    The basic gear for every STAFOC/STING/STAGG officer is a standard sidearm and a submachine gun. STAFOC/STING/STAGG also uses other weaponry including rifles, sniper rifles, and even machine guns (in some units), depending on the situation.

    Unlike in other police institutions, members are not bound to normal procurement policies and can order the equipment they feel the best for their mission.

    The following are the common weapons used by STAFOC/STING/STAGG:

  • Beretta Px4 Storm
  • Glock 19
  • Glock 26
  • SIG Sauer P226
  • SIG Sauer P2022
  • Walther P99
  • CZ Scorpion Evo 3
  • Heckler & Koch MP5
  • Various shotguns and bolt action sniper rifles
  • References

    Special Task Force On Organised Crime Wikipedia