| Agencyname: | Special Intervention Unit |
| Nativename: | Unidad Especial de Intervención |
| Abbreviation: | UEI |
| Patch: | File:Coat of Arms of the Guardia Civil Special Intervention Unit.svg |
| Patchcaption: | Coat of arms |
| Logocaption: | Patch |
| Badge: | File:Service Badge of the Guardia Civil Special Intervention Unit.svg |
| Badgecaption: | Service Badge |
| Motto: | Celeritas et Subtilitas Patrio |
| Mottotranslated: | Speed and Precision for the Fatherland |
| Formedyear: | 1978[1] |
| Country: | National |
| Gendarmerie: | yes |
| Speciality1: | specops |
| Person1name: | Our Lady of the Pillar |
| Person1type: | Patron |
| Anniversary1: | June 3rd |
The Unidad Especial de Intervención (UEI) is the only tier one police tactical unit of the Spanish Civil Guard that specialized in counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis management, high-risk tactical special operations, quick raid to capture or kill (if necessary) high-value targets, and VIP protection.
The unit's missions primarily involve anti-irregular military, apprehension of armed and dangerous criminals, counterterrorism and hostage rescue, executive protection, high-risk tactical law enforcement situations, operating in difficult to access terrain, protecting high-level meeting areas, providing security in areas at risk of attack or terrorism, special reconnaissance in difficult to access and dangerous areas, support crowd control and riot control, and tactical special operations.
UEI was established in 1978 to respond to high risk situations and including those involving hostages and terrorism situations. Its motto is Celeritas et Subtilitas Patrio. The exact scope of UEI operations and total number of personnel are not published. In 2008, on the occasion of the Unit's 30th anniversary, its commanding officer revealed that the UEI had until then participated in 375 operations, in which 563 hostages had been freed and 640 people arrested, of whom 141 belonged to terrorist groups. These operations included 11 high-sea missions against drug-trafficking. He also revealed that due to the demanding selection process, of the 26 applicants that had applied to join the Unit that year, only four had been admitted.[1] The Unit has also intervened in 18 prison riots involving hostages.[2] The UEI is part of the European Union-sponsored ATLAS Network.[3]
In assaults operations:
In boarding operations:
In riot control operations:
These are a few of them:[4]
The Unit is commanded by an active lieutenant colonel of the Civil Guard and its divided on:[5]