Joint maneuvers

• These exercises are usually carried out in order to establish and verify communication, activation, coordination and action protocols in the fight against drug trafficking.

June 26, 2023.- Customs Surveillance and the Civil Guard, within the framework of the protocol of operational actions that they usually carry out jointly, have carried out an exercise in action against drug trafficking on the coasts of the province of Alicante.

On June 14, within the framework of the protocol for the coordination of operational actions between the Customs and Excise Department of the Tax Agency and the Deputy Operational Directorate of the General Directorate of the Civil Guard, signed in Madrid on July 3, 2007, a joint exercise against drug trafficking was carried out in the waters of Jávea, in the area known as Arenal beach, in which members of the Customs Surveillance Service and members of the Civil Guard participated.

The drill consisted of the detection by the Integrated External Surveillance System (SIVE) of a semi-rigid boat about 7 nautical miles off the Arenal beach in Jávea, alerting the Complex Operations Centre (COC) and sending a helicopter from the Civil Guard Air Service in Valencia to the scene. After confirming that it was a suspicious vessel linked to drug trafficking, vessels from the Customs Surveillance and Maritime Service of the Civil Guard of Valencia began their pursuit.

Following the interception, carried out jointly and in a coordinated manner by the intervening media, the exercise ended with the arrest of the alleged occupants of the boat who were attempting to flee.

The Arao and Albatros offshore patrol vessels and the Colimbo IV Customs Surveillance interceptor participated in the drill. The Civil Guard intervened on the high seas vessel Rio Riaza, a helicopter from the Valencia-based Air Service and the Special Group for Underwater Activities (GEAS). All of them were directly involved or provided support during the exercise.

Prior to and after the exercise, coordination meetings were held to prepare the manoeuvres and to subsequently assess their development. Meetings not only demonstrated the professional skills of all the specialists, but also the excellent climate of understanding and collaboration between members of both Corps.