Customs Operational Battle Force Response Assault
- Counter terrorism, special weapons operations. Protection of internationally protected persons, other very important persons, and/or of state property of significance.
- Customs, excise and gambling.
- YAB Dato’ Sri Anwar Bin Ibrahim, Datuk Seri Haji Ahmad Maslan
Ministry of Finance
Customs Operational Battle Force Response Assault (Malay: Pasukan Tempur Operasi Medan Jabatan Kastam, Jawi:ڤاسوكن تمڤور اوڤراسي ميدن جابتن كستم), commonly abbreviated COBRA, is an elite counter terrorism and armed tactical unit of the Royal Malaysian Customs.[1]
History
As the response of the threats such as intimidation, obstacles, and harassment by touts while on duty, the COBRA team was established to protect the customs raiding team from all kinds of threats and busting a high-profile threats. Formed on 28 November 2016, a strength of 23 custom officers as the first batch of armed tactical team, underwent training at the General Operations Force Training Centre in Ulu Kinta, Perak in two months, started from 18 July and ended at 16 August.[1]
Equipment
Just like other special ops unit, COBRA team equipped with tactical uniform, equipments and firearms, in addition to moving in a small group depending on the risk level of a case. In addition to an extensive fleet, COBRA members are armed with the following weapons：
- Glock 34 pistol
- Benelli M4 Super 90 shotgun
- CZ Scorpion Evo 3 sub-machine gun
- Heckler & Koch MP5A5 sub-machine gun
- Colt M4A1 assault rifle
To increase the mobility, COBRA utilises the new Isuzu D-Max 3.0 four-wheel drives with upgraded accessories, such as a bull bar and dashboard video camera for use as fast response vehicle and crush down the armed smugglers.[3]
Operations
- 19 December 2017 - Combined KLIA Custom Enforcement Division and the COBRA tactical unit busted an attempt to smuggle 20.4 tonnes of firecrackers and fireworks with raided three stores, located at Batu Arang in Rawang and seized the consignment valued at RM825,714, which included unpaid taxes. Also, the team seized 1,225 litres of liquor from various countries value of RM17,133.60, with unpaid taxes of RM70,697.05.[4][5]
- 16 Jun 2017 - The Customs seized a various types of drugs worth about RM150,000 after detaining two individuals in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. During the operation on 10 June, the Custom narcotics team with assisted by the COBRA team detained a man and a woman in a condominium.[6]
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Customs Operational Battle Force Response Assault (COBRA).
- Zentrale Unterstützungsgruppe Zoll - German equivalent
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection - US equivalent
References
- ^ a b c "Customs Department Forms Cobra Team To Overcome Threats, Intimidation During Operations". The Sundaily. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ "COBRA lindungi Bahagian Penguatkuasaan JKDM". Berita Harian (in Malay). 28 November 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "New wheels for Customs Dept". The Star Online. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- ^ "Customs seize 20 tons of firecrackers, 1k litres of liquor in Rawang". New Straits Times. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- ^ "KLIA Customs seize 20.4 tonnes of firecrackers, fireworks". The Sundaily. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- ^ "Kastam rampas dadah di PJ". Berita Harian (in Malay). 16 June 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
External links
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Part of a series on terrorism and counter-terrorism in Malaysia
- 1975 AIA building hostage crisis
- Malaysian Airline System Flight 653
- Sauk Siege
- MV Bunga Laurel hijacking
- MT Zafirah hijacking
- MT Orkim Harmony hijacking
- 2016 Movida Bar grenade attack
- Assassination of Kim Jong-nam
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- Emergency (Public Order and Crime Prevention) Ordinance
- Internal Security Act (defunct)
- Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012
- Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015
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