Spanish police announced on Monday July 4 that they had for the first time seized “
underwater drones
” that could cross the Strait of Gibraltar between Morocco and Spain with up to 200 kilos of drugs on board.
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The operation resulted in the seizure of three "
underwater drones
" - two in progress and one almost finished - "
which were to be delivered to French drug traffickers for the transport of large quantities of cocaine
", police explained. in a press release.
These small submersible devices, controlled remotely, could be used in particular to transport drugs on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar, she continued.
"
This is the first time that this type of device operating under water without a crew on board (...) and known as UUV (Unmanned Underwater Vehicle) or ''underwater drones'' is seized
” by Spanish police, the statement said.
Eight people were arrested in Spain as part of this operation which also led to the seizure of large aerial drones with a range of 30 kilometers, more than enough to cross the 15 kilometer strait which separates Spain from Morocco, and capable of transporting drugs.
The network, which had customers in Denmark, France, Italy or Spain, also offered other services such as the manufacture of double bottoms in vehicles to hide and transport drugs.
Due to its cultural links with Latin America, where the main cocaine-producing countries are located, and its proximity to Morocco, a major producer of hashish, Spain is one of the main gateways to drugs in Europe.