Three Arrested in Catalonia for Creating Over a Thousand Drones for Terrorist Organisation Hezbollah
The Spanish Civil Guard, in a joint operation with the German authorities, dismantled a logistics group that built more than a thousand drones for the Lebanese Shiite terrorist group Hezbollah, which operates in Europe. The criminals purchased components from various Spanish companies and other European countries to manufacture these devices.
According to the Directorate General of the Armed Institute, three people were arrested in Spain, in Barcelona and Badalona, and another in Germany, in this operation led by the National Court.
On Wednesday, Spanish National Court Judge Santiago Pedras sent one of the detainees in Catalonia to a temporary prison for the crime of collaborating with terrorists, while the other two were released on pre-trial detention.
The operation was developed jointly by the Civil Guard Information Service and the German Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) and Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV).
Earlier, the Civil Guard discovered that Spanish commercial companies run by citizens of Lebanese origin were carrying out suspicious transactions involving large quantities of materials and components suitable for the construction of military-grade unmanned aerial vehicles capable of carrying explosive charges weighing several kilograms.
The detection of the transfer of one of these individuals to Germany activated international cooperation mechanisms, allowing the German authorities to investigate the branching out of the Spanish structure in that country. This individual was also detained in a joint and simultaneous operation in Spain.
The investigation proved the purchase of large quantities of materials, such as electronic guidance components, screws or bearings, from various companies located in Spain, other European countries and the rest of the world.
In addition, dozens of petrol engines, more than two hundred electric motors and more than twelve tonnes of resins and solids key to the formation of the fuselage, wings and moving parts of this type of drone.
Hezbollah is called the de facto ruler of Lebanon. This radical religious and political armed group controls the shadow economy, has its own army and determines foreign policy. The Arab League recognised Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation in March 2016.
After the 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists, Hezbollah also attacked several Israeli military targets in support of Hamas' terrorist actions.