Spanish Authorities Uncover Innovative Drug Trafficking Method
The Spanish National Police have successfully dismantled an extensive international drug trafficking operation that employed large drones to transport narcotics from Morocco to Spain, with final destinations in France. This operation, known as 'Horus,' has seen the arrest of eight individuals and was conducted under the oversight of the Algeciras court. Launched in 2025, the investigation revealed a technologically advanced modus operandi that has raised significant concerns among security agencies due to its ability to evade traditional surveillance systems.
The criminal network utilized high-tech fixed-wing drones equipped with four engines. These drones, boasting an impressive wingspan of approximately four meters, could traverse the Strait of Gibraltar at speeds exceeding 100 km/h, allowing for rapid delivery from the Moroccan coast to southern Spain in a matter of minutes. Each drone could carry up to 20 kilograms of drugs per flight. Upon receiving the cargo on Spanish soil, the organization facilitated further transportation via land routes. Hashish and cocaine were cleverly concealed in secret compartments within vehicles before being transported to Vitoria, located in Spain's Basque Country, which served as a logistical hub to supply various criminal networks operating in France.
Major Seizures and Ongoing Concerns
Authorities carried out simultaneous raids at five different locations in Algeciras and Vitoria, resulting in the seizure of an aerial transport drone, 40 kilograms of hashish, two kilograms of cocaine, two vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and €14,000 in cash. This case exemplifies the increasing trend among drug trafficking networks to utilize aerial methods, capitalizing on the geographical proximity between North Africa and Europe. Spanish authorities have noted a rise in long-range drone trafficking operations in recent years. Just last November, another network using homemade drones capable of traveling nearly 200 kilometers was neutralized, and in 2024, a different organization equipped with drones manufactured in Ukraine was also dismantled by Spanish security forces.
As reported by maroc-hebdo.com.
