The specialization of drug traffickers in the Strait of Gibraltar causesincreasingly, that the methods they use to ensure that drug shipments reach their destination are becoming more and more sophisticated. One of these new work tools, as sources from the Central Narcotics Brigade assure EL ESPAÑOL, are drones. And this is seen in the recent operation carried out by the National Police.
Agents specializing in the fight against drug trafficking They discovered and dismantled a criminal organization in Algeciras dedicated, it seems, to the introduction of hashish into our country from Morocco using unmanned aircraft. What we call in their jargon “narcodrones”.
These planes They were made in Ukraine and, later, transported by road to the south of our country, where shipments of the narcotic substance were proposed and agreed with local criminal organizations in the Campo de Gibraltar region and the Costa del Sol.
Video | These are the “narcodrones” with which a network dismantled in Algeciras trafficked
A total of ten people – seven of whom were imprisoned – and six searches were carried out in Algeciras and Marbella in an investigation which benefited from the collaboration of EUROPOL, as well as the police authorities of Ukraine and Poland. They are being investigated as suspected perpetrators of drug trafficking and criminal organization offences.
The investigation began more than a year ago. Investigators became aware of the existence of a criminal organization which, based in Campo de Gibraltar and on the Costa del Sol, would have the mission of introducing large quantities of hashish into Spain by air.
For this, they used drones large artisanal manufacturing with a transport capacity of around ten kilograms of hashish on each flightwith a range of more than fifty kilometers. The use of planes allowed them to travel the route between Morocco and Spain, flying over the waters of the strait, and return after dropping the drugs in our country without having to land.
Manufacturing in Ukraine
Typically, the drones were manufactured in Ukraine and transported by road to southern Spain. Already on national territory, exploited by individuals from Eastern European countries, they began to operate. These people have reached agreements with local criminal organizations based in the Campo de Gibraltar region and the Costa del Sol. They made this narcotics air transport service available to them.
Throughout the investigation, it was possible to verify how an organization allegedly attempted to send up to a ton of hash using this method.
In the investigation they intervened three planes, including one under constructionas well as remote control devices, repair tools and large sums of cash and narcotics allegedly brought into Spain by this method. The detainees were placed at the disposal of the Court of Instruction 5 of Algeciras, which ordered the imprisonment of seven of them.
New traffic methods
This is not the first time we have observed an operation of this nature. “It’s a trend that is becoming more widespread. Some have occurred in recent months but as extravagances resulting from luxury. But we notice that they already have them as a working tool“. This new work tool also serves as a method of counter-surveillance of operations of the National Police.
In another operation in 2019, police located an organization from which they seized a drone, Phantom 4 model, cutting-edge technology. They also seized a radar, a frequency jamming case and numerous transmission equipment.
Why use a drone during an unloading operation? Especially to watch the goalkeeper. To control those who try to control them. Simply by trying to optimize the performance of your business.
To do this, organizations call on the services of qualified personnel in this area. They even have personnel highly trained in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles.
The air transport of hashish from Morocco to Spain has also been observed in Ceuta in recent years. Also in November 2021, the Civil Guard of Ceuta managed to dismantle an organization that had narcodrone your traffic tool. THE Operation Etxea led to 10 arrests and the seizure of 46 drones, dedicated to the transport of medicines such as alprazolam and clonazepam for the ‘karbubi’.
A year earlier, in 2020, Benemérita, in collaboration with the National Police, managed to dismantle another organization with similar characteristics.
