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DRNA seeks to boost enforcement corps and maritime capacity; agency plans new academies, boat repairs and certification
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Summary
DRNA told the House Finance Committee on May 2 it is expanding its enforcement corps, repairing and acquiring boats and pursuing certifications to improve maritime law enforcement and search-and-rescue capacity.
At a May 2 hearing before the House Finance Committee, Secretary Waldermar Quiles Pérez discussed plans to strengthen DRNA’s enforcement corps (vigilantes) and maritime capability.
Staffing and training - The secretary said DRNA currently has approximately 244 vigilantes on staff and two parallel academies now under way (24 and 21 recruits, respectively), for about 45 new officers in training. - DRNA plans to convert some of the 55 new budgeted positions into mechanics and other specialized roles; the department described a conservative recruitment target of 75 new vigilantes over the cuatrienio, with a longer-term goal of roughly 150 to restore capacity as retirements occur.
Boats, aircraft and equipment - Quiles Pérez said the department aims for two boats per maritime unit and expects to have about 22 operational craft after repairs and acquisitions. He told the committee there are roughly 18 boats in the fleet, of which about eight were active at the time of the hearing and the remainder under repair. - The department reported one aircraft in service (one was previously out of service), and DRNA said much of the fleet acquisition and repair has depended on federal funding. - The department plans coordinated training with the U.S. Coast Guard to certify up to 15 new boat captains.
Enforcement strategy - DRNA is creating a drone unit to augment vigilance across protected areas and reduce unnecessary stop-and-check interventions at sea; the secretary said drones can direct enforcement to incidents and improve intervention efficiency. - Quiles Pérez also described plans to increase collaboration with other law-enforcement agencies (e.g., Coast Guard, CBP, FURA) given DRNA’s jurisdiction up to nine miles offshore.
Why it matters: Committee members asked whether recruitment and equipment plans were feasible within the proposed budget and whether the department had the staffing and technical expertise to operate aircraft and maritime craft. The agency agreed to provide further documentation on budgeting and staffing priorities.
