Ops Cantas 2 to involve three elite police teams

The Royal Malaysian Police has combined three elite teams through Ops Cantas Khas 2 to handle gangsterism and assassins in the country.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim said the Special Action Force Gambling, Vices and Gangsterism (STAGG), Special Action Force Organised Crime (STAFOC) and the Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING) will be involved after detailed planning is carried out.

He said the merger was part of its serious commitment after several shooting incidents that occurred during the year.

READ: Recent shooting victims were assassinated - Police

"Everything we do through Ops Cantas Khas 2 will be better, after we have enhance our capabilities in combating the elements of gangster.

"We note that this crime (shooting) has been on a rise lately, therefore the launch of Ops Cantas Khas 2 is to curb the spread through a better operation.

"This includes combining the three Special Operation Force - STAGG, STING and STAFOC - and I will chair it myself," he said after officiating the closing ceremony of the IPSC shooting competition at the General Operations Force Central Brigade Camp in Cheras, here, Sunday.

Last Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said he wanted Ops Cantas to be further enhanced in curbing criminal activities including shooting cases which are becoming more common in recent years.

According to him, Ops Cantas might be introduced due to a rise in cases, including the latest involving an owner of a money-lending company who was shot dead at a traffic light in Setapak on Wednesday.

He said the rise in crime such as shootings in the country has nothing to do with the weakness of the existing law, but some things need to be improved, for example, border control to curb the smuggling of firearms.