Spanish National Police, in coordination with judicial authorities, have dismantled a criminal network operating between southern Spain and France that allegedly used advanced drones to smuggle drugs from northern Morocco across the Strait of Gibraltar.
According to Spanish police, the operation led to the arrest of eight suspects believed to be involved in transporting shipments of cannabis resin and cocaine from Morocco before distributing them in France.
Investigators said the group relied on large fixed-wing drones equipped with four engines and capable of carrying substantial quantities of narcotics. The drones reportedly had wingspans of up to four meters and could transport as much as 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of cargo while flying at speeds exceeding 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour.
Authorities said the aircraft were able to cross the distance between Morocco and southern Spain in a short time, helping traffickers avoid traditional maritime surveillance in the Strait of Gibraltar.
Once the shipments arrived in southern Spain, the drugs were allegedly moved in vehicles fitted with sophisticated hidden compartments before being transported to the Basque region and later distributed through criminal networks operating in France.
The investigation, dubbed “Operation Horus,” was launched last year under the supervision of a court in Algeciras. Simultaneous raids were carried out in Algeciras and the area of Vitoria-Gasteiz, resulting in the arrests.
Police said the operation also led to the seizure of around 40 kilograms of cannabis resin, 2 kilograms of cocaine, cash sums, two vehicles used for drug transportation and one of the drones allegedly used in the trafficking operations.
The case highlights the increasing use of advanced technology by international drug-trafficking organizations seeking to exploit the geographic proximity between Morocco and southern Europe.
It is not the first case involving drone-based drug smuggling routes between Morocco and Spain. In November last year, authorities announced the arrest of nine individuals linked to another trafficking network that used locally manufactured drones capable of flying more than 200 kilometers (124 miles) to transport cannabis across the Mediterranean corridor.
In 2024, Spanish police also dismantled a separate criminal network that allegedly used drones manufactured in Ukraine to smuggle cannabis from Morocco into Spain.
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