Customs Operational Battle Force Response Assault
Pasukan Tempur Operasi Medan Jabatan Kastam Customs Operational Battle Force Response Assault | |
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Abbreviation | COBRA |
Agency overview | |
Formed | 28 November 2016[1] |
Employees | 205 operators[2] |
Jurisdictional structure | |
Federal agency | Malaysia |
Operations jurisdiction | Malaysia |
Primary governing body | Government of Malaysia |
Secondary governing body | Royal Malaysian Customs |
General nature | • Federal law enforcement |
Operational structure | |
Overviewed by Police |
|
Headquarters | Kuala Lumpur |
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Minister of Finances responsible |
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Customs Operational Battle Force Response Assault (Malay: Pasukan Tempur Operasi Medan Jabatan Kastam), commonly abbreviated COBRA, is an elite paramilitary 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 in November 28, 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
- Bushmaster M4 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
- December 19, 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]
References
- 1 2 3 "Customs Department Forms Cobra Team To Overcome Threats, Intimidation During Operations". The Sundaily. 2013-05-30. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
- ↑ "COBRA lindungi Bahagian Penguatkuasaan JKDM". Berita Harian (in Malay). 2016-11-28. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
- ↑ "New wheels for Customs Dept". The Star Online. 2017-11-19. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
- ↑ "Customs seize 20 tons of firecrackers, 1k litres of liquor in Rawang". New Straits Times. 2017-12-19. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
- ↑ "KLIA Customs seize 20.4 tonnes of firecrackers, fireworks". The Sundaily. 2017-12-19. Retrieved 2018-04-05.