Police disbands special units, officers being transferred out

KUALA LUMPUR: The police force is in the midst of finalising the transfers of former members of the the Special Task Force for Anti-vice, Gaming and Gangsterism (STAGG), the Special Task Force on Organised Crime (Stafoc), and the Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING).

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said that the teams have been “officially disbanded” and that their former members would be absorbed into other departments in transfer exercises that he hopes would be completed by the end of the year.

“We had over 600 officers and personnel, and out of that number 167 have been distributed to other departments.

“We have 10 departments currently and we are seeing which ones require bolstering.

“For example, we want to bolster the Commercial Crime Investigation Department, especially in areas involving ICT and those investigating Macau scams.

“This is something that needs our attention right now,” he said after officiating a promotion ceremony at the police training centre here Thursday.

Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced the disbandment of the teams in June.

STAGG was formed with the aim of catching the “big fish” involved in local as well as international vice and gambling syndicates.

Stafoc was formed to go after underworld kingpins and those involved in gangsterism and other serious crimes, while STING was formed to target the most notorious drug syndicates and drug barons.