Spanish police on Saturday announced they had dismantled a criminal gang that used helicopters to smuggle large quantities of cannabis from Morocco into southern Spain and arrested six suspects in a rare operation targeting aerial drug trafficking, Reuters reported.
Spain’s Civil Guard said the group flew helicopters across the Mediterranean carrying between 500 and 900 kg of cannabis resin per trip before moving the drugs by road to other parts of Europe. Authorities seized one helicopter and 657 kg of cannabis during coordinated raids in the southern provinces of Malaga, Almeria, and Murcia.
Police also recovered five firearms, cash, and several vehicles from an isolated warehouse used by the group, Civil Guard spokesperson Gonzalo Lopez said.
The operation, dubbed “Giro,” involved cooperation with Moroccan, Belgian, and Swedish law enforcement agencies, highlighting the cross-border nature of drug trafficking routes linking Morocco to Europe.
“It is rare for helicopters to be used to smuggle drugs, but criminal groups do occasionally attempt it,” a police source said, noting that helicopters are difficult to acquire illegally and easy for authorities to detect.
Spain remains a major gateway for cannabis entering Europe, most of it originating in Morocco. Smugglers typically rely on maritime routes using speedboats or jet skis, though police have recently uncovered more unconventional methods, including drones.
The six suspects have been placed in custody on charges related to drug trafficking, membership in a criminal organization, and illegal possession of firearms.
