The Immigration Department is currently in the process of setting up a special force that is known as the 'Elite Team' to handle high-risk raids.

Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said the establishment of the team would also strengthen the role of the department as an enforcement agency.

"This is the group we want to place in the frontline of whatever challenges we face. Challenges in law enforcement aspects are numerous, for example when we carry out raids, we face many threats of violence," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after officiating the team's pre-election programme at the Immigration Academy here today.

A total of 76 immigration officials comprising 61 men and 15 women were participating in the programme which involves nine training modules. Immigration officers elected to the team would also undergo commando training.

Elaborating further, Mustafar said they would receive in-house training besides being exposed to other law enforcement team training modes including the General Operations Force and Police.

The group's first team will be stationed at the immigration headquarters in Putrajaya under the Special Operations Intelligence Division, he said, adding that they would be mobilised across the country to handle high-risk raids.

The teams would be expanded to the states at some point, he said, adding that the team comprised those aged 21 to 35 years.

The establishment of the team would soon enable the Department to empower each of its personnel in identifying foreigners who could be potential security risks to the country.

The Immigration Department currently has 14,420 personnel nationwide.

-- BERNAMA