Spain police bust gang running night flight 'hash'copters
Spanish police said on Friday they had broken up a gang specialising in night-time helicopter flights to bring in hashish from Morocco, during a joint operation with their Moroccan counterparts.
During the operation, police seized two helicopters and nearly 800 kilograms (1,760 pounds) of hashish, arresting nine people, two of whom were "pilots with expertise in flying at night", the Guardia Civil police said.
They said investigators spotted a helicopter taking off from a ranch near the southern port city of Cádiz in the early hours of January 15th and then flying at low altitude, without lights, towards Morocco.
Moroccan police identified the helicopter entering the country's national airspace, landing for "a few minutes" and then flying back.
The chopper was intercepted by Spanish police after landing at the ranch in Chiclana de la Frontera, just south of Cádiz.
On board, they found 30 bundles containing 795 kilograms of hashish and arrested five people, also seizing three vehicles at the ranch.
During the raid, one gang leader died in a car crash close to the site
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During the operation, police seized two helicopters and nearly 800 kilograms (1,760 pounds) of hashish, arresting nine people, two of whom were "pilots with expertise in flying at night", the Guardia Civil police said.
They said investigators spotted a helicopter taking off from a ranch near the southern port city of Cádiz in the early hours of January 15th and then flying at low altitude, without lights, towards Morocco.
Moroccan police identified the helicopter entering the country's national airspace, landing for "a few minutes" and then flying back.
The chopper was intercepted by Spanish police after landing at the ranch in Chiclana de la Frontera, just south of Cádiz.
On board, they found 30 bundles containing 795 kilograms of hashish and arrested five people, also seizing three vehicles at the ranch.
During the raid, one gang leader died in a car crash close to the site
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