Spanish police seize drug-carrying underwater drones

The Spanish police have seized semi-submersible drones used by drug traffickers to ship narcotics across the Strait of Gibraltar into Spain. The devices were designed to travel 30 km carrying up to 200 kg of marijuana and hashish.

The sea-borne devices were designed to travel 30 km (19 miles) carrying up to 200 kg (440 lb) of marijuana and hashish. Three drones, including one made out of a surfboard, were found along with six large flying drones in several warehouses near the port city of Cadiz.

Juan Antonio Siloleo, Head of the central narcotics brigade, said, “The navigation of these devices was done remotely via GPS, so that a person or a member of the organisation could check the location at any time and then arrange the docking from home with a tablet and the right software.”

The police seized over 150 kg of hashish and marijuana, 157,000 euros in cash and arrested eight people in Ceuta, Cadiz and Malaga. Police also found cars with hidden compartments to take the drugs up north as far as Denmark.

There are many groups of drug traffickers and people smugglers operating in the area around the Straits of Gibraltar separating Europe from Africa which is as narrow as 8 miles in some places.