Special Operations.Com
Special Operations
and Counterterrorist Units
Unidad de Intervencio
Especial (UIE) - Special Intervention Unit
Costa Rica has no military and instead
relies on the Ministry of Public Security. Within
the Guardia Civil (Civil Guard) is the Special Intervention
Unit. It was established in the mid-1980's and is
between 60 and 80 men strong. Besides the hostage
rescue mission, they are also responsible for VIP
protection and conducting high-risk criminal raids
and arrests. The unit makes use of 11-man assault
teams, each divided into subteams of 3-4 men each.
In addition, they have a small sniper element used
for observation and fire support. The UIE is located
in the 1st Civil Guard facilities in San Jose. They
have received a great deal of training from a wide
variety of sources, including Israel, Panama, USA,
Argentina, and Spain.
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