Spain dismantles drone-based drug smuggling network operating from Morocco

The Spanish Civil Guard has dismantled an international drug trafficking network that used advanced drones to transport hashish from Morocco to Spain. The major operation, codenamed «Ruche», resulted in the arrest of nine people.

According to Spanish authorities, the network used fixed-wing drones capable of long-distance flights at low altitudes, carrying several kilograms of drugs per trip. The drones were launched from Morocco’s northern coast and landed discreetly at hidden sites along the Cádiz coastline, effectively bypassing maritime and land surveillance in the Strait of Gibraltar.

Officials described the operation as a major breakthrough in anti-trafficking efforts, highlighting the network’s innovative use of drone technology. By relying on unmanned aircraft instead of boats or vehicles, traffickers managed to move drugs without leaving conventional traces, posing a new challenge for law enforcement.