For over 20 years, the Customs Surveillance Service operated by INAER has accumulated more than 55,000 flight hours, most of them nocturnal. This extensive experience operating for the Agencia Tributaria has led to their being acknowledged as a benchmark in the fight against drug trafficking throughout Europe.

The Customs Surveillance department, which is attached to the Public Tax Administration, participates actively in the fight against drug trafficking. This is one of its functions, along with the protection of the borders and the containment of contraband. It carries inspectors on board the air resources (helicopters and aeroplanes) that collaborate on numerous operations with the Police and Spanish Guardia Civil.

Since 1986, INAER has been responsible for the operation and maintenance of the helicopter fleet of this service. It includes 7 aircraft: three Europcopter AS365 N3, three BO 105 and a BK 117, in 4 bases of the Spanish coast. Working on these, there is a team made up of 15 helicopter pilots and 7 maintenance technicians, with extensive experience and specialized training in the tasks of nocturnal search and chase.