Spanish authorities have dismantled a drug trafficking network that used fixed-wing drones to smuggle cannabis from Morocco to Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar, arresting nine suspects, Spanish media “Europa Sur” reported.
Dubbed “Operation Ruche,” the operation targeted a group that deployed long-range, high-capacity drones capable of carrying several kilograms of cannabis over long distances while flying at low altitude to evade radar and patrol detection.
Investigators said the drones launched from northern Morocco’s coastal areas and landed along the southern Cadiz coastline, where the drugs were recovered for distribution across Spain and Europe.
Authorities described the case as part of broader efforts to curb drug trafficking through the Campo de Gibraltar region, a critical gateway for smuggling between Africa and Europe.
