Police commando's prep for waterborne operations

 

Members of the STF's Special Waterborne Operation Squadron display their capabilities at Bolgoda Lake. (Pictures - Police Department) 


By Asiri Fernando

The Police Special Task Force (STF) had formed a new unit aimed at interdicting crime that occurs on and near rivers and water bodies.

The Special Waterborne Operation Squadron is made up of sixteen STF officers who have undergone specialist training from members of the  United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) and the Sri Lanka Powerboat Association. 

According to Police Spokesman, DIG Ajith Rohana the team will be tasked with combating crime near and on waterbodies around the Island including; sand mining, deforestation, illegal gem mining, smuggling and illicit liquor production among others. 


The specialist unit will also be called on by the police to assist them when acting on crimes being committed near water bodies, DIG Rohana added. 

Over the last few years, the STF has been called on to perform a broader law enforcement role with personnel being assigned to carry out counter narcotics operations and to go after organised crime groups. The STF has traditionally played the lead role in Counter-Terrorism, Counter Insurgency and provide protective services for state, parliamentary and judicial figures.   

The new unit was launched last Sunday (09 May) by Minister of Public Security Rear Admiral (Retd) Sarath Weerasekara. MP Weerasekara plans to modernise the Police Department reorganising the existing formations and recruiting 10,000 new personnel. 









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