Spanish Police Seize Underwater Drones in Groundbreaking Drug Trafficking Bust

The operation took place on Monday, July 4, 2022. In total, 200 kg of drugs that were to be transported from Morocco to Spain via the Strait of Gibraltar were seized by the Spanish police, reports the Spanish agency EFE. In a statement, the police indicate that this is the first time that this type of unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) or underwater drone has been seized. The Spanish police seized two underwater drones under construction and another almost completed.

These drones "were to be delivered to French drug traffickers for the transport of large quantities of cocaine," the police explained, adding that these small submersible devices "had a range of 30 km, which is more than enough to cross the 15 km Strait of Gibraltar that separates Spain from Morocco."

In addition to the seizure of the drones, eight people were also arrested in Spain. The network’s customers are in Denmark, France, Italy or Spain and also benefit from other services such as the manufacture of hidden compartments in vehicles to hide and transport drugs.