The Grupo Albatros (Albatross Group) is a special operations service of the Prefectura Naval Argentina (PNA).Prefectura Naval Argentina (April 3, 2024) "¡Feliz aniversario Agrupación Albatros!" YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAEXVsjsED4, Date accessed: April 23, 2026 Tiempo de San Juan Editorial Staff (November 27, 2017) "¿Qué es el Grupo Albatros de Prefectura?" Tiempo de San Juan, Tiempo de San Juan, 2026, https://www.tiempodesanjuan.com/politica/2017/11/27/que-grupo-albatros-prefectura-198325.html, Date accessed: April 24, 2026 Unlike the tactical units of other agencies in Argentina, the Argentine Naval Prefecture allows women to join this group.Ministerio de Seguridad Nacional (October 9, 2018) "La Agrupación Albatros: como en las películas, pero de verdad" Argentina.gob.ar, Government of the Argentine Republic, https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/la-agrupacion-albatros-como-en-las-peliculas-pero-de-verdad, Date accessed: April 25, 2026
History The Albatross Group was created on April 3, 1975, to quickly and efficiently intervene in situations that require specific tactical capabilities. They took part in the Falkland War as five members of the Albatross Group were part of the Falkland Islands Prefecture located in Puerto Darwin that was inaugurated on April 16, 1982, which carried out patrols, security tasks and assistance in the area.Rosario3 (March 28, 2022) "La actuación de la Prefectura Naval Argentina en la Guerra de Malvinas" rosario3, Rosario 3, 2026, https://www.rosario3.com/informaciongeneral/La-actuacion-de-la-Prefectura-Naval-Argentina-en-la-Guerra-de-Malvinas-20220328-0051.html, Date accessed: April 24, 2026 As of April 2026, the head of Albatross Group is Major Prefect Héctor Cabrera.Ministerio de Seguridad Nacional (April 10, 2026) "Prefectura conmemoró el 51° aniversario de la Agrupación Albatros" Argentina.gob.ar, Government of the Argentine Republic, https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/prefectura-conmemoro-el-51deg-aniversario-de-la-agrupacion-albatros, Date accessed: April 23, 2026
Duties Located in the province of Buenos Aires, it conducts river and maritime operations in the lakes and rivers and anything close to the coastline. Their main responsibilities include providing security to people and property in the event of sabotage, attacks, riots, social outbreaks or fortuitous or provoked contingencies, restoration and maintenance of public order, guaranteeing freedom of work, preventing and fighting against drug trafficking, assist the community with disaster reliefSan Fernando Municipio (April 5, 2019) "Acompañamos a la Agrupación Albatros de la Prefectura en el 44° aniversario de su creación" San Fernando Municipio, San Fernando Municipio, https://www.sanfernando.gob.ar/seguridad/acompanamos-a-la-agrupacion-albatros-de-la-prefectura-en-el-44-aniversario-de-su-creacion, Date accessed: April 25, 2026, and supporting operational bodies in tasks of surveillance, custody and protection of critical and vital objectives.Ministerio de Seguridad Nacional "Agrupación "Albatros" Argentina.gob.ar, Government of the Argentine Republic, https://www.argentina.gob.ar/prefecturanaval/servicios/agrupacionalbatros, Date accessed: April 23, 2026
In addition to Counter-Terrorist missions, they handle search and rescue and criminal responses.Enorte (April 16, 2022) "Villa Constitución: Prefectura desarticuló una peligrosa banda narco" Enorte, El Norte, 2026, https://diarioelnorte.com.ar/villa-constitucion-prefectura-desarticulo-una-peligrosa-banda-narco/, Date accessed: May 2, 2026
Training The Albatross Group constantly trains with tactical units from other Argentinian law enforcement agencies, such as the Federal Penitentiary Service's Special Intervention Group (GEI), the Argentine Federal Police's Special Federal Operations Group Division (GEOF) and Special Group 1 (GE 1), and the Airport Security Police's Special Tactical Assault Group (GEAT)Servicio Penitenciario Federal (November 29, 2025) "El SPF participó del cuarto ejercicio conjunto del CUPATC" Argentina.gob.ar, https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/el-spf-participo-del-cuarto-ejercicio-conjunto-del-cupatc, Date accessed: April 10, 2026, and tactical units from foreign governments, like the Paraguayan National Police's Special Police Operations Forces (FOPE).Ministerio de Seguridad Nacional (November 29, 2025) "Finalizaron los cursos en la Agrupación Albatros con participación de becarios extranjeros" Argentina.gob.ar, Government of the Argentine Republic, https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/finalizaron-los-cursos-en-la-agrupacion-albatros-con-participacion-de-becarios-extranjeros, Date accessed: April 25, 2026 Every morning and afternoon, all members of the group are required to do physical preparation routines on land, water, and sometimes in the air using helicopters.Ministerio de Seguridad Nacional (October 9, 2018) "La Agrupación Albatros: como en las películas, pero de verdad" Argentina.gob.ar, Government of the Argentine Republic, https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/la-agrupacion-albatros-como-en-las-peliculas-pero-de-verdad, Date accessed: April 25, 2026
Gear The Albatros group uses specialized weapons and gear such as: WeaponOriginTypeBeretta 92Semi-automatic pistolHeckler & Koch MP5Castro, Maga de (November 27, 2025) "A ocho años del asesinato de Rafael Nahuel continúa el reclamo por justicia" ANCCOM, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales - UBA, https://anccom.sociales.uba.ar/2025/11/27/a-ocho-anos-del-asesinato-de-rafael-nahuel-continua-el-reclamo-por-justicia/, Date accessed: April 23, 2026Submachine gunFranchi SPAS-15ShotgunFN FALAssault rifleSIG SG 552 CommandoIWI X95SIG Sauer SSG 3000Sniper rifle
Operations On July 30, 2020, forty-five operatives from the Albatross Group, along with members of another group that was not identified who specialized in critical situations, challenging environments, and hostile places, were deployed Rosario to help try to fight the intentional fires on the islands of the Paraná Delta, patrol part of the wetland to try to prevent other fires from being started, assist in identifying people and arrest people who are suspected of having caused these fires. Five hydroplanes and some helicopters from the Argentine Federal Police were also deployed to help fight the fires.La Capital (July 30, 2020) "Aseguran que con la llegada del grupo Albatros "se termina todo tipo de actividad" en las islas" La Capital Multimedios, https://www.lacapital.com.ar/la-ciudad/aseguran-que-la-llegada-del-grupo-albatros-se-termina-todo-tipo-actividad-las-islas-n2600213.html, Date accessed: April 29, 2026La Capital (July 28, 2020) "Perotti anunció la llegada del grupo Albatros y otros refuerzos para combatir los incendios en las islas" La Capital Multimedios, https://www.lacapital.com.ar/la-ciudad/perotti-anuncio-la-llegada-del-grupo-albatros-y-otros-refuerzos-combatir-los-incendios-las-islas-n2599815.html, Date accessed: April 29, 2026 They raked the area near where the grassland was burning, while also trying to avoid the fires. They camped on the islands in front Rosario for twenty days. Their main objective was to protect the area and prevent the fires from getting to the grasslands.Rosario 3 (July 30, 2020) "Fuego en las islas: 45 miembros del grupo Albatros acamparán durante 20 días" Rosario 3, Rosario 3, 2026, https://www.rosario3.com/informaciongeneral/Fuego-en-las-islas-45-miembros-del-grupo-Albatros-acamparan-durante-20-dias-20200730-0075.html, Date accessed: April 29, 2026Conclusión TV Diario Digital (July 30, 2020) "El grupo Albatros desembarcó en Rosario y se suma a las tareas para ponerle fin a los incendios" YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqgprJ-0B1w, Date accessed: April 29, 2026
The Albatross Group was deployed in Rosario again in 2022, along with 8,000 troops from the PNA, after fires broke out in Rosario, Arroyo Seco, and Villa Constitución to patrol the area to prevent more fires from being intentionally started and raking areas to prevent the fire from spreading.El Agrario Editorial Staff (September 15, 2022) "Grupo Albatros se sumará a prevenir nuevos focos de incendios" El Agrario, El Agrario, 2026, https://elagrario.com/actualidad/grupo-albatros-se-sumara-a-prevenir-nuevos-focos-de-incendios-71457/, Date accessed: May 1, 2026Ministerio de Seguridad Nacional (August 17, 2022) "Incendios en la costa del Paraná: Prefectura trabaja intensamente en las zonas afectadas" Argentina.gob.ar, Government of the Argentine Republic, https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/incendios-en-la-costa-del-parana-prefectura-trabaja-intensamente-en-las-zonas-afectadas, Date accessed: May 1, 2026 The Pumas Rural Guard (Spanish: la Guardia Rural Los Pumas), and the Argentine Army, who arrived at the Alvear Operational Command on September 14, 2022, assisted them with preventing new fires from being intentionally started and fighting the fires.El Dia (August 28, 2022) "El trabajo de los brigadistas para controlar los incendios en el Delta del Paraná" El Dia, El Dia SA, 2026, https://www.eldia.com/nota/2022-8-28-13-53-0-el-trabajo-de-los-brigadistas-para-controlar-los-incendios-en-el-delta-del-parana-informacion-general, Date accessed: May 1, 2026Mitriani, Carolina (August 15, 2022) "EL GRUPO ALBATROS CUSTODIA LAS ISLAS DEL DELTA PARA EVITAR NUEVOS INCENDIOS" Enorte, El Norte, 2026, https://diarioelnorte.com.ar/el-grupo-albatros-custodia-las-islas-del-delta-para-evitar-nuevos-incendios/, Date accessed: May 1, 2026Editorial Team (September 15, 2022) "El Ejército volvió al Comando Operativo de Alvear para combatir los incendios en las islas" El Tigre del Papel, El Tigre de Papel, 2023, https://eltigredepapel.com/archivos/22256, Date accessed: May 1, 2026 On August 26, 2026, the fires near Rosario were effectively contained. However, the fires in Arroyo Seco and Villa Constitución were still being worked on.Santa Fe Provincia (August 27, 2022) "Continúan los trabajos desde el Comando Operativo de Alvear" Santa Fe Provincia, CompartirIgual 2.5 Argentina, https://www.santafe.gob.ar/noticias/noticia/275707/, Date accessed: May 1, 2026
In 2026, the Argentine Naval Prefecture, including operators from the Albatross Group, intercepted a boat carrying contraband merchandise located on the Paraná River, Misiones, within Puerto Iguazú from the Paraguayan coast. A PNA patrol detected a boat that had left the coast of Paraguay loaded with numerous number of packages. When the criminals realized that they had been detected by members of the Argentine Naval Prefecture, the crew members of the vessel quickly returned to the coast of Paraguay, abandoned the cargo and fled through the vegetation. When the PNA personnel approached the boat with the packages, they began to be attacked from both sides of the river with gunfire from automatic weapons and shotguns and pelting stones at them.Clarín Newsroom (April 14, 2026) "Personal de Prefectura y contrabandistas se enfrentaron a los tiros en el río Paraná" Clarín, Clarín.com, 2026, https://www.clarin.com/policiales/agentes-prefectura-contrabandistas-enfrentaron-tiros-rio-parana_0_BUC4bk3Gh5.html, Date accessed: May 1, 2026