Major Drug Smuggling Operation Busted in Vitoria
Until earlier this week, a resident of the Lakuabizkarra neighborhood in Vitoria lived a seemingly ordinary life as an anonymous figure within the city. However, investigations have revealed that he was allegedly involved with a criminal gang specializing in smuggling drugs from Morocco to Spain using drones. This individual is among eight suspects who were apprehended by the National Police, which had been tracking this group’s illicit operations for several months, focusing on their reliance on advanced technology for their illegal activities.
The gang had established a base of operations in Algeciras, from where they piloted drones across the Strait of Gibraltar, loaded with narcotics. According to the National Police investigation, they utilized vehicles with hidden compartments to transport these drug loads to Vitoria, where the substances were then distributed to various criminal organizations based in France, engaged in drug trafficking.
On Thursday, the Vitoria resident was placed in preventive custody at the Zaballa prison after the court handling the case determined that he played a complementary yet crucial role within the network. His responsibilities included storing the illegal materials in the Alava region and likely participating in road trips where a lookout vehicle was always present to alert the gang of any police presence before the car carrying the drug cargo arrived. This individual had previously come under police scrutiny a couple of years ago due to alleged involvement in another drug-related case.
Operation Horus: A Sophisticated Drone Seized
The 'Operation Horus' – named after the Egyptian god of the sky – successfully captured one of the drones used by the gang. This particular model is capable of covering the distance between Spain and Morocco within minutes, reaching speeds of over 100 kilometers per hour. It is a large aircraft, with a wingspan of four meters, equipped with four motors and the capacity to carry up to 20 kilograms of cargo. Law enforcement officials confirm that while this is not the first instance of a drug drone being confiscated, this one is among the most sophisticated.
The investigation, led by the Investigating Court No. 4 of Algeciras, culminated earlier this week with five simultaneous home searches conducted in Algeciras and Vitoria. Eight individuals were arrested during these operations, including the Lakuabizkarra resident, who now faces preventive detention as the case progresses.
In addition to the arrests, authorities seized 40 kilograms of hashish, two kilograms of cocaine, two vehicles utilized for drug transportation, €14,000 in cash, and one of the drones employed by the criminal organization. Investigators also confiscated other items related to their illicit activities.
As reported by elcorreo.com.
