By Trend News Line 2024-04-02 12:46:46.
**Ukrainian Pilots Caught Importing Drugs on Helicopters**
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In a shocking turn of events, two elite Ukrainian pilots have been arrested by the Guardia Civil and the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie for importing drugs from Morocco to Spain using helicopters. The pilots, who are experts in nighttime and low-altitude flights, were paid a hefty sum of at least €150,000 per trip.
**Operation Torcal 469 Tornado Unveiled**
The operation, named Torcal 469 Tornado, commenced in mid-2023 after authorities discovered that a gang was seeking pilots to carry out drug flights on the Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco. After months of investigations, the Guardia officers uncovered two helicopters hidden on farms in Sevilla and Cadiz, with the properties leased by the gang leader.
**Narco-Flight Interception**
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On January 15, in the early hours, investigators detected a narco-flight in Cadiz province heading south from the gang’s farm. The craft was flying at a very low altitude and without any lights. A Guardia Civil helicopter pursued and arrested five individuals, including the pilot, when it landed at a farm in Chiclana de Frontera. One of the pilots, identified as Vitor Blaha, a former Ukrainian police colonel, was accused of piloting the helicopter carrying 30 bales of hashish weighing 795 kilos, valued at around €4 million.
**Mechanics Involved in the Trafficking**
Further investigations led to the raid of four addresses, resulting in four more arrests. Mechanics were amongst those arrested for using former Soviet Union parts to repair the helicopters. A second craft was impounded at a farm in the Sevilla area town of Utrera, with the craft being prepared for narco flights. Both helicopters, acquired by the gang in Eastern Europe, were capable of carrying several passengers and were modified to store drugs with a maximum weight close to 900 kilos.
**Dangerous Flight Routes**
The gang’s route involved flying across the Strait of Gibraltar to Morocco to load drugs, then returning to Spain under the cover of darkness. Pilots like Blaha charged around €150,000 per flight to navigate the perilous route. The helicopters flew at extremely low altitudes, without lights or navigation systems, making them virtually undetectable to radars.
**Collaborative Efforts of Authorities**
The sting operation began when Guardia Civil officers observed a helicopter leaving an unspecified location in Cadiz. They coordinated with Moroccan police to track the aircraft as it returned to Spain. A Guardia Civil officer pursued the aircraft as it re-entered Spanish airspace and coordinated with ground officers to intercept the suspects upon landing.
**Conclusion**
The arrest of these Ukrainian pilots and the dismantling of the drug trafficking operation highlights the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in combating transnational crime. The seizure of the helicopters and the significant amount of drugs confiscated will undoubtedly disrupt the operations of this criminal gang. The investigation continues to uncover more details about the network involved in this illicit activity..
1. Ukrainian fighter pilots drugs smuggling operation
2. Low-flying helicopter drug trafficking scheme.
