MADRID: Spanish police said Wednesday they had arrested nine people and dismantled a criminal network that used homemade drones “with exceptional range” to transport hashish from Morocco to Spain.
The drones would depart from southern Spain to pick up the drugs in Morocco and return, releasing the cargo over Vejer de la Frontera and Tarifa in Cadiz province, Spain’s Guardia Civil police force said in a statement.
Packages were equipped with fluorescent markers and radio-linked geolocation devices to aid night-time recovery, it added.
Police said the group manufactured the drones, which were capable of flying over 200 kilometers (120 miles) using components brought from Asian suppliers at a workshop in Alcala de los Gazules.
“The group developed homemade drones with exceptional range, accuracy, and carrying capacity, well beyond that of standard commercial models,” the statement said.
