The Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources Conservation Rangers, better known in Puerto Rico as the 'Cuerpo de Vigilantes' (Vigilante Corps) is the law enforcement conservation officers for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Its primary mission is to protect endemic plants and animals of Puerto Rico, including those who are in danger of extinction, and also to prevent the introduction of animals and plants which might endanger the native species of Puerto Rico and prosecute any person who does so.

Its headquarters are located at State Road PR-8838, Km. 6.3, El Cinco neighborhood

El Cinco, San Juan, Puerto Rico

El Cinco is a barrio of the municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico and a former barrio of the dissolved municipality of Rio Piedras. In the year 2000 it had a population of 7,149 and a land area of 1.37 square miles resulting in a population density of 5,207.9/sq mi...

, in San Juan

San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...

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History

Guards Corps was created on June 29, 1977 by Act No.1 SE. The Corps or Rangers is responsible for ensuring the protection of our natural resources for use and enjoyment of our people, monitor the observance of the laws and regulations that protect the environment and prevent pollution of this and also serves as the Police in all areas under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The work of the Corps of Rangers is very important for the preservation of the environment.

The Duties and Obligations are:

• Ensure the company complies with all laws, regulations and ordinances adopted, aimed at the protection, conservation and preservation of natural resources.
• Intervene with violators of the laws and regulations promulgated by the Government of Puerto Rico, when committed crimes in our presence, when requested by any other law enforcement officials, when requested by a citizen or when acting as federal deputy.
• Observe and promulgate the protection of civil rights.

Their Faculties are:

• Make arrests without prior order, attempts or violations of the laws of the Government of Puerto Rico, when this is done in his presence.
• Hold or seize any species of wildlife, aquatic life, crustal material forest land or possession of, or under the control of people who try to convey in violation of the laws administered by the DNER. So as to retain seize or confiscate weapons, vehicles, ships, boats, airplanes or any equipment used in violation of the laws and regulations.
• Inspect and require the submission of any permit, franchise, concession, resolution, insurance, license or other document given by the DNER or DPTW.
• Order orally or stop immediate cessation of any activity under the jurisdiction of the DNER, without authorization.
• Issue Citations
• Run Arrests.
• Run Subpoenas.
• Perform records. Address and register boats, vehicles or any other, when they have probable cause to believe that they have committed violations of fisheries laws, laws on endangered species, 430 Maritime Security Act, pursuant to the Rules of Criminal Procedure of Puerto Rico.
• Provide assistance and support to the Puerto Rico Police Department in cases of violation of the Traffic Act, narcotics and others who are committed and others that are committed in the forests, beaches, nurseries, or otherwise under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.