The Importance of Patrol Operations

The importance of Marine Patrol Operations of Royal Malaysian Customs Department: A case Study on Patrol Operation Coordinated by Indonesia-Malaysia Customs (Operation PATKOR KASTIMA 23B/2017)

2.0 Introduction

The ocean links East and West Malaysia, and has been a source of power and prosperity for the country since before the era of the Melaka Sultanate. Then, as now, a key to successful exploitation of ocean wealth is sound governance and an effective enforcement is an essential aspect of good ocean governance. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (LOSC), Malaysia is entitled to, and has declared, a 12 mile territorial sea and an exclusive economic zone out to a distance not exceeding 200 nautical miles from the territorial sea baseline. With a coastal low-water line of 4,675km, Malaysia’s maritime estate is now larger than its territorial land area. The wealth and food resources of that maritime estate are growing in importance as improving technology and infrastructure bring them within commercial reach.

Unfortunately, maritime crimes such as smuggling, illegal entrance at the Strait of Malacca and the East Malaysia sea areas were hindering the economic activity toward sustainable growth in Malaysia and causes the breaking out of piracy, armed robberies, terrors and etc. The Marine and Supporting Service of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD) is one of the responsible department for anti-smuggling and to conduct sea patrol operations in order to control the expanding and diversifying smuggling routes laid along the long coast lines.

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In order to enable RMCD to expand sea areas under simultaneous 24-hour patrol operations and to patrol under pitch-black conditions at night against sea smuggling and other illegal activities in the territorial waters of Malaysia, especially at the Strait of Malacca and along the East Malaysia, there is an operation called Patrol Operation Coordinated by Indonesia-Malaysia Customs (Operation PATKOR KASTIMA 23B/2017) which is the 23rd time built since 1994.