Spanish Authorities Dismantle Advanced Drug Trafficking Operation
The Spanish National Police, in collaboration with judicial authorities, has successfully dismantled a criminal organization operating between southern Spain and France. This notorious group specialized in drug trafficking, utilizing advanced drone technology to smuggle narcotics from northern Morocco into French territory. According to reports from the Spanish police, this extensive operation led to the arrest of eight individuals suspected of transporting significant shipments of cannabis and cocaine across the Strait of Gibraltar using sophisticated fixed-wing drones capable of carrying substantial drug loads.
The drones employed by this network were notably large, featuring four engines with a wingspan of up to four meters, allowing them to transport as much as 20 kilograms of drugs at speeds exceeding 100 kilometers per hour. Such capabilities enabled rapid transit between Morocco and Spain, thus enhancing the efficiency of their smuggling operations.
Complex Smuggling Routes and Operations
Investigations revealed that upon reaching southern Spain, the illicit shipments were transferred into vehicles equipped with advanced hidden compartments before being directed towards the Basque region, from where they were distributed to criminal networks in France. This operation, dubbed "Horace," was initiated last year under the supervision of the court in Algeciras, resulting in simultaneous raids in Algeciras and Vitoria, ultimately leading to the apprehension of the suspects involved.
Additionally, the operation resulted in the seizure of approximately 40 kilograms of cannabis, two kilograms of cocaine, a significant amount of cash, two vehicles utilized for drug transport, and one of the drones involved in the smuggling activities. This case highlights the increasing reliance of international drug trafficking networks on advanced technology, such as drones, to exploit the geographic proximity between Morocco and southern Europe, thereby circumventing traditional security measures in the Strait of Gibraltar.
This is not the first instance where authorities have dismantled a drug trafficking ring utilizing drones for operations between Morocco and Europe. In November of the previous year, nine individuals were arrested, and a network was dismantled that employed locally manufactured drones capable of covering distances exceeding 200 kilometers to transport cannabis from Morocco to Spain. Furthermore, in 2024, the Spanish police had previously dismantled another criminal organization that utilized drones manufactured in Ukraine for similar trafficking purposes.
As reported by hespress.com.
