Members of crack coast guard unit can't be photographed
or named, but they strike fear into smugglers'
hearts
By Ben Nadarajan
IT IS a highly-secretive unit with some formidable capabilities,
including high-speed boats and the ability to launch seaborne
intercepts of criminals or ships with dangerous cargo.
But despite being around for a decade, little is known about this
elite Police Coast Guard unit.
In fact, the first time many people heard of it was when its
members nabbed one of the three armed robbers who holed up on Pulau
Tekong recently after fleeing Johor.
The Special Task Squadron (STS) started out as a crack unit to
tackle smugglers and illegal immigrants riding speedboats into
Singapore. The hush-hush squad, which calls itself The Flying Fish,
has shied away from the media glare since its formation.
Its men cannot be photographed or named and each bears his own
unique code name.
The Straits Times was given a peek into its capabilities recently,
with the unit showing off some impressive skills.
Take its equipment: The Marlin boats it uses can zip through the
water almost as fast as sports cars racing down an
expressway.
The boats are also highly manoeuvrable, changing direction in the
blink of an eye.
All this helps them catch smugglers and the like, who are known in
the past to have tried to outrun the police with speedboats.
The squad's commander cannot reveal the boats' top speeds, but says
they are the fastest craft deployed in Singapore waters.
Once the Marlins catch up with their prey, the officers of the STS
spring into action, quickly boarding the craft and subduing
criminals on board.
The men are also trained to board larger ships using rope
ladders.
The unit has the capability to board both stationary and moving
vessels.
Its record in dealing with seaborne criminals speaks for itself: In
the past 10 years, it has nabbed more than 400 illegal immigrants,
armed robbers and smugglers.
The STS was formed from a pioneer batch of 25 men to deal with an
influx of illegal immigrants making a dash for the Singapore
shoreline in motorised sampans or speedboats.
The need for a special unit arose because police boats at the time
were slow and could not match those of the criminals in speed or
manoeuvrability.
But since the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United
States, the unit's tasks have grown. It is now sometimes called
upon to escort sensitive foreign government vessels coming into
Singapore, protecting them from attack by smaller craft.
And while combing ships for illegal VCDs or drugs, officers also
keep their eyes peeled for firearms and explosives.
Special gear, such as boots which provide extra buoyancy and grip,
and Glock-19 pistols, help The Flying Fish carry out their
duties.
As would be expected of the toughest unit in the Police Coast
Guard, joining it is no easy task.
Even before qualifying for a try-out, candidates must be expert
shooters, must have steered a boat for at least a year, must have
good physical fitness and swimming standards, and must be aged
below 30.
Dropout rates even after selection are high: During a course two
years ago, only one in 10 applicants made it.
Most dropped out during the initial week-long course which tests
their physical and mental mettle.
Training does not stop once they qualify.
The officers go out to sea three times a week to hone their
techniques. On other days, they spend hours perfecting their
shooting skills and improving their fitness levels.
As a measure of how effective the STS is, the Police Coast Guard
says human smugglers are so afraid of being intercepted at sea that
they refuse to bring illegal immigrants in by boat anymore and tell
them to swim over instead.
'This is our biggest compliment,' an STS officer said.
In a display of its speed and agility, the Marlin - the fastest
craft deployed in Singapore waters - chases a "smuggler's" boat and
catches it. -- ALBERT SIM
Members of The Flying Fish spring into action, boarding the boat
and capturing the "criminal".
--ST
