Special Task Force On Organised Crime

Special Task Force On Organised Crime
Active	January 1, 2014
Country	Malaysia
Branch	Royal Malaysia Police
Type	Special forces
Role	Domestic counter-terrorism and law enforcement
Size	Varies
Part of	Criminal Investigations Department

STAFOC members of Bukit Aman during the parade

STAFOC officers in Sabah

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.

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).^[1] 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.^[2]

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

Teams of STAFOC, STING, STAGG and police task force officers arrest an 'assailant' during demonstrations show of the 59th Merdeka Day in Kuala Lumpur.

• 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.^[3]
• 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 uspect, 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.^[4]
• 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.^[5]
• 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.^[6]
• 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.^[7]
• 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.^[8]
• 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.^[9]
• 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.^[10]
• 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.^[11]
• 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.^[12]
• July 14, 2016 - Police shot dead a suspect involved in the murdered 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. ^[13]

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.^[14]

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.^[15]
• 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.^[16]
• 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.^[17]
• 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.^[18]
• 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.^[19]
• 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.^[20]
• 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.^[21]
• 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.^[22]
• 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.^[23]
• 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.^[24]
• 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.^[25]
• 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.^[26]
• 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.^[27]
• 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.^[28]
• 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.^[29]
• 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.^[30]
• November 23, 2015 - STING teams seized 4 pistols, 2 shotguns and 1 airsoft gun in a raid.^[31]
• 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.^[32]
• June 2, 2016 - STING officers arrested 2 suspects and seized 182kg of drugs in Jelutong, Selangor.^[33]
• 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.^[34]

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.^[35][36]

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.^[37]
• 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.^[38]

Equipment

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

1. Afiq Niza (November 21, 2013). "Elite force to tackle serious crime". The Sun Daily. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
2. Nawar Firdaws (November 22, 2013). "Cream of cops to fight serious crime". Malay Mail Online. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
3. "STAFOC formed to track down ATM hackers". Astro Awani. October 4, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
4. "Police shoot dead triad member in Sungai Petani". Astro Awani. March 13, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
5. Audrey Dermawan (March 31, 2015). "Armed and dangerous criminals killed in shootings with police". New Straits Time. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
6. "SINDIKET PEMERDAGANGAN MANUSIA TUMPAS". Polis DiRaja Malaysia. August 4, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
7. "POLIS TEMUI BENGKEL SIMPAN SENJATA API". Polis DiRaja Malaysia. August 11, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
8. "TANGKAPAN DAN RAMPASAN SENJATA API". Polis DiRaja Malaysia. August 11, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
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10. "Body in oil drum, missing DPP case solved". The Rakyat Post. September 16, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
11. "Police cripple contract killer gang in JB". The Rakyat Post. October 16, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
12. "Suspected armed robber shot dead near Templer Park". The Star Online. December 2, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
13. Crystal Chiam Shiying (July 14, 2016). "Cops shoot killer in quadruple murder case". The Star Online. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
14. Farik Zolkepli (January 30, 2014). "STING to combat local and international drug syndicates". The Star. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
15. "Police cripples drug syndicate, drugs worth RM5 million seized". Astro Awani. February 9, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
16. "Police bust drug lab, seize drugs worth RM10 mln, eight arrested". The Borneo Post. May 26, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
17. "Sting Tumpaskan Empat Suspek Pengedaran Dadah". Royal Malaysian Police. June 23, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
18. "Five Taiwanese held in a drug bust". The Star. July 16, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
19. "Penang drug gangs busted". The Star. July 23, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
20. "22 suspek ditahan miliki 34kg dadah". Sinar Harian. July 26, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
21. "International drug trafficking syndicate busted". The Rakyat Post. Aug 4, 2015. Retrieved Aug 4, 2015.
22. "SINDIKET PENGEDARAN GANJA TUMPAS". August 10, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
23. "STING seizes liquid syabu worth RM15 million". August 22, 2015. August 21, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
24. "Sting raids six drug dens, 81 nabbed". August 24, 2015. August 24, 2015. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
25. "Police bust Nigerian-backed international drug trafficking ring". August 28, 2015. August 28, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
26. "Sekat 'emas hitam'". October 03, 2015. October 3, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
27. "Raja' sindiket tumpas, dadah RM1j dirampas". October 05, 2015. October 5, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
28. "173 DITANGKAP HARI KEDUA OP SARANG". October 14, 2015. October 12, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
29. "200kg ecstasy mix seized, 15 nabbed in STING raids". November 1, 2015. November 2, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
30. "STING rampas syabu 46 kilogram". November 5, 2015. November 5, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
31. "STING RAMPAS TUJUH SENJATA API". November 23, 2015. November 23, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
32. "Cops seized RM2mil worth of drugs inside 'Segway'". November 26, 2015. November 27, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
33. "DUA DITAHAN BERSAMA 182 KG GANJA". June 2, 2016. June 2, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
34. "Cops seized RM2mil worth of drugs inside 'Segway'". November 26, 2015. November 27, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
35. Nadirah H.Rodzi (December 7, 2014). "New elite group formed to combat vice, gaming and gangsterism". The Star. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
36. Atiqa Hazelah (December 8, 2014). "New Elite Police Team To Nab 'Big Fish' Of Crime". New Straits Times. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
37. "STAGG, Penang police seize 190 gaming simulator machines". The Sun Daily. January 31, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
38. Halim Said (February 15, 2016). "STAGG swoops down on JB gambling scene, RM1m in machines seized". New Straits Times. Retrieved September 17, 2016.