Issue date: 26 Sep, 2018
ANNIVERSARIES. 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP (GEO)
The Special Operations Group is the elite unit of the Spanish National Police Corps, which has displayed its operational abilities over the last 40 years.
At the massacre that befell the 1972 Munich Olympics, there was no specialised response unit for incidents of the like, and this led to the creation of numerous units across Europe.
The first access course to this Unit was held in 1977, following the example of the German anti-terrorist group GSG-9 with the aim of fighting terrorism and the diverse organised crime groups in Spain in the 1970s.
There are three basic values that characterise this unit, which is well-known and praised by its namesakes across the world. The first is based on the human potential of the police officers that make up the unit, with main exponent being the special preparation that all the members receive to successfully deal with missions they are assigned to.
The second is shaped by the resolution ability of GEO to deal with especially critical situations using the potential of the means that are available to them.
The most relevant characteristic of the third value is the vitality of the Unit to carry out all types of missions.
The following functions are assigned to the Special Operations Group:
- To free people who have been kidnapped or taken as hostages.
- To stop terrorists and other dangerous armed criminals.
- To open and enter places used by terrorists and organised crime groups.
- To collaborate in safeguarding leading figures in special situations by establishing measures that cover visits by leading figures to Spain.
- To provide protection to Spanish embassies overseas in extremely threatening situations by forming cells that reinforce the security for Spanish diplomatic delegations.
- To carry out underwater police services by deploying divers to partake in search and rescue missions for bodies or items used in criminal acts.
- To carry out any service that requires a special qualification.
Their recognition has led to them becoming a benchmark in the field not only in Spain but also beyond our borders.
The members of the GEO tend to have collaboration and training days with units from the group “Atlas”, which is used by 36 anti-terrorist units from 30 European countries.
Correos has issued a GEO stamp to honour this special day with a simple design with a GEO member wearing night-vision goggles and typical activity equipment. This is framed by the Spanish National Police emblem and the Spanish and European Union flags.
Rate A - €0.75. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, up to 20 g.
Rate A2 - €0.85. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, between 20 g and 50 g.
Rate B - €1.65. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to Europe (including Greenland), up to 20 g.
Rate C - €1.75. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the rest of the world (except USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand), up to 20 g.
Rate D - €2.10. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, up to 20 g.