Spanish Civil Guard Seizes Helicopter Transporting Hashish from Morocco to Spain, Each Trip Carrying 900 kg (Photos)
BY: Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS- The Spanish Civil Guard dismantled a criminal organization after the arrest of its nine members who conducted “drug flights” using helicopters to smuggle cannabis into Spain from Morocco. Among those arrested were two expert pilots specialized in night flying at low altitudes, according to the Spanish Civil Guard. They managed to seize two helicopters and confiscate 795 kilograms of cannabis. The operation, codenamed Torcal 469 Tornado, began in mid-2023 after monitoring one member of the organization dedicated to international drug trafficking.
Investigators discovered that the organization was seeking pilots to conduct “drug flights” between Spain and Morocco. After several months of investigation, it was confirmed that the organization had two hidden helicopters, one in a farm in the province of Seville and another in Cadiz, where the organization’s leader contracted to use the farms for drug smuggling.
In the early hours of January 15th, investigators discovered a “drug flight” in Cadiz heading south from the organization’s farm. Observing that the helicopter was flying at an extremely low altitude without any lights, a joint operation was immediately organized between the Civil Guard and the Moroccan Royal Gendarmerie. Units including the Rapid Action Group (GAR) and the Civil Guard’s helicopter unit were activated.
The Spanish Civil Guard helicopter intercepted the aircraft from the air when it landed on a farm in Chiclana de la Frontera and detained five members of the criminal organization, including the pilot. The aircraft was transporting 30 burlap bags containing 795 kilograms of cannabis, along with navigation devices and mobile stations. Three vehicles used by the organization at the scene were also seized.
One of the main perpetrators suffered a traffic accident and died in an area near the helicopter’s location. It is suspected that he fled the scene of the accident in a vehicle at high speed before crashing due to veering off the road.
In the subsequent stage of the investigation, four search and seizure operations were conducted, leading to the arrest of four additional individuals from the organization. Another helicopter was seized at a farm in the town of Utrera in Seville, where the criminals had prepared it for “drug flights.”
The organization was hierarchical, with each member assigned specific tasks, including acquiring helicopters, finding ships for concealment, starting flights from farms, recruiting pilots, obtaining fuel, mechanics for mission operations, and maintaining and adjusting devices and drug suppliers.
The criminal organization acquired the helicopters in Eastern European countries, each capable of accommodating several passengers. However, drug traffickers removed the rear seats to transport a larger quantity of drugs, enabling them to carry close to 900 kilograms of cannabis. The market value of this type of aircraft in the black market is approximately 900,000 euros.
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