Inside the Cuban Border Guard
The mission of Cuba's Border Guard, or TGF ("Tropas Guarda Fronteras"), is to police Cuba's coastal areas. It is organized under the Ministry of Interior, or MININT. It focuses on countering drug trafficking and illegal migration through Cuban waters and airspace, and also conducts search-and-rescue operations at sea. As such it parallels the activities of the U.S. Coast Guard. The Cuban Border Guard also seeks to intercept anti-Castro infiltrators involved in what they see as terrorist activities against the country. MININT asserts that small private planes based in Florida have dropped bombs on Cuba (in addition to leaflets), and that private boats have fired on the coastline, resulting in civilian casualties.
The Border Guard consists of an estimated 6500 troops and is equipped with approximately 18 Soviet-built Zhuk-class inshore patrol boats (40 tons) and 3 Soviet-built Stenka-class vessels (245 tons fully loaded), plus numerous smaller boats.
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Cuban Border Guard boats to
be equipped with helicopters for
counterdrug operations
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Gen. Wilhelm and Dr. Blair meet
the crew of a Cuban Border Guard
patrol boat
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