RADA Special Deterrence Forces
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Libya| State of Libya Al Radaa for Countering Terrorism & Organized Crime | |
|---|---|
| دولة ليبيا جهاز الردع لمكافحة الارهاب والجريمة المنظمة | |
 | |
| Founded | approx. 2011–2012 (14 years ago) by Abdulrauf Kara |
| Country | Libya |
| Allegiance | Presidential Council and Abdulrauf Kara |
| Branch | Ministry of Internal Affairs |
| Type | Radical Islamic Paramilitary Special Forces |
| Role | SWAT / Militarized Police Ops |
| Size | 1500~ |
| Part of | Ministry of Interior |
| Website | RADA Deterrence Forces on Facebook |
| Commanders | |
| Leadership | Abdul Raouf Kara |
State of Libya Al Radaa for Countering Terrorism & Organized Crime (Arabic: دولة ليبيا جهاز الردع لمكافحة الارهاب والجريمة المنظمة), commonly known as RADA Special Deterrence Forces, or simply RADA, is a Madkhali[1] radical Islamist special operations military police unit formed in Tripoli, Libya, for the purpose of tackling crime. Its focus is high-profile kidnappings,[2] murders, drug and alcohol poisoning related deaths, illegal migrant smuggling, weapons smuggling, explosives smuggling, terrorist attacks and plots. A lack of political power and police presence in Tripoli provoked the founding of this special unit.
The leader is Abdul Raouf Kara.[3][4][5][6][7]
Rada has been involved in tackling non-Islamic activities and dissidents within Tripoli, including fighting against Libyan National Army.
Size and composition
RADA was originally a fighting unit that helped topple Muammar Gaddafi in the 2011 civil war. After Gaddafi, Abdul Rauf Kara was a member of the police force formed by the Supreme Security Committee with a reported 700 men at his disposal. The Supreme Security Committee (SSC) was then dissolved into the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Libya[8] where his forces were then relabeled as RADA Special Deterrence forces under the guidance of the Ministry of Interior.
The group has an estimated 1,500 members. It is the third or fourth largest militia in Tripoli. Ninety percent of their force are legitimate police officers, seventy percent of whom served in the Libyan police force prior to 2011. Their main areas of operations in Tripoli are the western areas of Soug Al Jouma and Ain Zara. Their headquarters are at Mitiga International Airport.[9][10][11]
Operations
RADA operates as an independent department under the Ministry of Interior,[11] and implements a focused anti-narcotics and police force mandate. RADA Special Forces are involved in police work, investigations, arrests, patrols, checkpoints, and other anti-crime activities. This organisation actively and publicly releases images and online footage displaying the seizure of explosives and components smuggled by terrorists, unregulated alcohol seizures, unregulated medical goods such as Tramadol, dollar-dinar black market arrests, arrests of terrorism and terrorist suspects, arrests of kidnappers and other criminals, seizing illegal contraband, etc.
RADA operates primarily within Tripoli, but also outside the capital, in cities such as Sabratha, Zawiah, Benghazi, Sirte, Dernah and Zwarah.
RADA operates under Islamic Sharia principles with "accordance to" post Gaddafi-era laws reformed under controversial circumstances[12][13][14] by the Islamic Supreme court of Tripoli. Legal and political reforms were made during the coup d'état against the house of representatives in the 2013–14 battle of Tripoli by "Libya Dawn".
As an example, in August 2017, one of Libya's most notorious human and fuel smugglers Fahmi Salim Bin Khalifa was captured[15][16][17] as ordered by the Attorney General's Office and praised by the state owned National Oil Corporation. The move is notable due to Libya's 2013–2017 security vacuum and governance crisis.