Customs Operational Battle Force Response Assault

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]

Customs Operational Battle Force Response Assault
Pasukan Tempur Operasi Medan Jabatan Kastam
ڤاسوكن تمڤور اوڤراسي ميدن جابتن كستم
AbbreviationCOBRA
Agency overview
Formed28 November 2016 (2016-11-28)[1]
Employees205 operators[2]
Jurisdictional structure
Federal agencyMalaysia
Operations jurisdictionMalaysia
Governing bodyGovernment of Malaysia
General nature
Specialist jurisdictions
  • Counter terrorism, special weapons operations. Protection of internationally protected persons, other very important persons, and-or of state property of significance.
  • Customs.
Operational structure
Overviewed byRoyal Malaysian Customs
HeadquartersKuala Lumpur
Elected officer responsible
Parent agency Ministry of Finance

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：

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]

References
  1. "Customs Department Forms Cobra Team To Overcome Threats, Intimidation During Operations". The Sundaily. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  2. "COBRA lindungi Bahagian Penguatkuasaan JKDM". Berita Harian (in Malay). 28 November 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  3. "New wheels for Customs Dept". The Star Online. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  4. "Customs seize 20 tons of firecrackers, 1k litres of liquor in Rawang". New Straits Times. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  5. "KLIA Customs seize 20.4 tonnes of firecrackers, fireworks". The Sundaily. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  6. "Kastam rampas dadah di PJ". Berita Harian (in Malay). 16 June 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2020.

See also
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