Moroccan and Spanish police dismantle helicopter drug trafficking ring

Moroccan Royal Gendarmerie and Spain’s Guardia Civil have dismantled a criminal network specializing in smuggling hashish by helicopter, as reported by El pais.

Nine members of the organization were arrested, and 795 kilograms of drugs were seized.

Codenamed “Torcal 469 Tornado,” the operation began in mid-2023 after authorities began investigating a suspect linked to international drug trafficking. 

The investigation revealed the organization was searching for experienced pilots to conduct “narco flights” between Spain and Morocco.

Through months of investigation, agents discovered the network possessed two hidden helicopters, one stashed at a farm in Seville province and another on a boat in Cadiz. Both aircraft were leased by the ringleader for drug transport.

Investigators detected a “narco flight” originating from the organization’s farm in Cadiz leading to its interception by the Guardia Civil as it landed at a farm in Chiclana de la Frontera. Five members of the organization, including the pilot, were apprehended. 

The helicopter carried 30 bales of hashish weighing a total of 795 kilograms, along with navigation equipment and mobile phones. Additionally, three vehicles used by the network were seized at the location.

One of the key figures in the network died in a car accident near the helicopter’s landing site, suggesting he attempted a high-speed escape that resulted in a fatal road departure.

Further raids led to the arrest of four more members and the seizure of a second helicopter at a farm near Seville. This second aircraft was being prepared for future “narco flights.”

The organization functioned with a hierarchical structure. Each member had a specific role, including acquiring helicopters, finding vessels and farms for operations, recruiting pilots, securing fuel and spare parts, maintaining the aircraft, and coordinating with drug suppliers.

The two helicopters, with an estimated black market value of €900,000 each, were originally purchased in Eastern Europe. 

While capable of carrying multiple passengers, the drug traffickers removed the rear seats to maximize drug capacity, allowing them to transport up to 900 kilograms per flight.

This joint operation comes in the context of the strong collaboration between Moroccan Royal Gendarmerie and the Spanish Guardia Civil in combating drug trafficking and organized crime.