More than 160 pyrotechnic detonators, 16 maritime signaling flares and even a mortar grenade. These are some of the pyrotechnic elements that the Specialist Group in Deactivation of Explosive Devices (GEDEX) of the Civil Guard in Lanzarote has encountered during the last three months. The grenade was destroyed in a controlled detonation at the Montaña Bermeja shooting range.
On November 7, 2015, the GEDEX received a notice from the Civil Guard barracks in Tías. A private individual had gone there to deposit an artifact that he had found while diving in El Cable. It was an 81-millimeter mortar grenade. The Benemérita believed that someone could have gotten rid of it because they "presumably" got hold of the artifact in a "fraudulent manner." After being recovered from the seabed, this group specializing in explosives took charge of its controlled destruction.
The Benemérita has explained the actions of this specialist group on the island since November 7, recalling the danger of certain artifacts and that the abandonment of flares or explosives can be considered a serious infraction, with fines of between 600 and 30,000 euros. Between Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, the GEDEX have destroyed more than 2,000 pyrotechnic or incendiary elements in these three months.
Signaling flares, detonators and a smoke canister
Within these actions, on January 10, the GEDEX agents went to Arrecife, where a citizen who used to work in unclogging and opening water wells handed them 169 pyrotechnic detonators. In another action, on February 8, the Civil Guard destroyed 16 maritime signaling flares and a smoke canister. These artifacts had been delivered by several residents at the Puerto Naos dock.
"This type of destruction is carried out by GEDEX specialists of the Civil Guard, in an area enabled for this purpose, the GEDEX adopt all security measures, due to the danger of this material," explains the Benemérita. The police force recalls that the manipulation of this type of artifact and "especially in the case of being expired, is extremely dangerous, due to its great instability, and its activation can be caused by any improper manipulation."
More than 1,900 cartridges in Fuerteventura
During the past month of December, the GEDEX agents also traveled to the island of Fuerteventura. There they destroyed 41 maritime signaling flares and 1,911 metallic and hunting cartridges. The flares were found in the town of Gran Tarajal by various citizens, who handed them over at the Civil Guard post of Gran Tarajal.
On the other hand, the ammunition was delivered to the GEDEX components by the Intervention of Weapons of the Civil Guard of Puerto del Rosario. This ammunition, largely expired, "is delivered every so often by people related to the world of shooting or sport hunting in its majority," explains the police force. In this sense, they point out that when a business or company that commercializes with this type of material observes that these elements have expired, "they must contact the Civil Guard to proceed to establish the mandatory procedure that will lead to the subsequent destruction" of that material.
At the same time that it has communicated these actions, the Civil Guard has disseminated several recommendations in case of encountering artifacts of these characteristics. In this sense, they emphasize that the artifact should not be manipulated and "prevent anyone from doing so," "move away from the area where the explosive is located," "immediately notify the Civil Guard or the competent or nearest security body, or failing that, 112" and, finally, "signal the area and the location of the explosive, keeping a prudent distance, not losing sight of it to prevent other people from approaching."