Spanish police arrest nine, seize drones and drugs in operation against network using long-range homemade drones to smuggle hashish from Morocco
MADRID: Spanish police have dismantled a criminal network using homemade drones with exceptional range to transport hashish from Morocco to Spain.
Nine people were arrested in the operation targeting the sophisticated smuggling operation.
The drones departed from southern Spain to collect drugs in Morocco before returning and releasing cargo over Vejer de la Frontera and Tarifa in Cadiz province.
Packages were equipped with fluorescent markers and radio-linked geolocation devices for night-time recovery.
Police said the group manufactured the drones at a workshop in Alcala de los Gazules using components from Asian suppliers.
“The group developed homemade drones with exceptional range, accuracy, and carrying capacity, well beyond that of standard commercial models,” the Guardia Civil stated.
The network operated nearly every night, launching up to 10 drones simultaneously.
They moved approximately 200 kilograms of hashish in a single night using this method.
Operation “Ruche” was conducted in cooperation with the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie.
Authorities detected multiple unidentified drone flights between the two countries before taking action.
Police seized eight completed drones and another 10 under construction during five raids in southern Spain.
They also confiscated over 150 kilograms of hashish and 320,000 euros in cash.
Northern Morocco lies just 14 kilometres from Spain’s southern Andalusia region at the Strait of Gibraltar’s narrowest point.
Spain serves as a major entry point for hashish into Europe due to its proximity to Morocco.
Last year, Spanish police busted another network using Ukrainian-made drones for similar operations.
Those devices could transport only 10 kilograms of drugs per trip with a range exceeding 50 kilometres. – AFP
