潜水型無人機で麻薬密輸を試みる

　ジブラルタル海峡を遠隔操作の機材で突破しようとの試み。

BBC Drug-smuggling submarines seized by Spain 5 Jul 2022 By Mark Pivac

「Spanish police say they have seized six underwater drones built to smuggle large amounts of illicit drugs remotely from Morocco.

They said the unmanned submarines - each capable of carrying 200kg (31 stone) - had more than enough range to cover the 15km (9 miles) journey across the Strait of Gibraltar.」

　一機当たり200kgも積める。しかし逮捕されてしまった。

「Eight people were arrested in the police operation, in Barcelona, and in the southern provinces of Malaga and Cadiz.」

　しかし、なんでも14か月もの捜査が必要だったらしい。

BBC Drug smuggling: Underwater drones seized by Spanish police 5 Jul 2022 By Leo Sands

「Spanish police have seized three underwater drones built to smuggle drugs across the sea from Morocco.

The unmanned submersibles are apparently capable of carrying up to 200kg (441lbs) of cargo.」

「As part of the 14-month investigation, eight people have been arrested in Cadiz, Malaga, and Barcelona.」

「Spanish police say it is the first time they have discovered an underwater vehicle capable of being operated unmanned.」

　…こうした試みを摘発するのは、スペイン警察としては初めてだったそうな。
　GPSをつけ、インターネットを通じてどこからでも操作できる―素晴らしい技術。犯人はヘリのパイロットの資格があって、こうした機材に通じていたのだという。

「Armed with GPS navigation systems, the vehicles could potentially be operated by drug traffickers from anywhere in the world using an internet-device as simple as a tablet.」

「Earlier this year a semi-submersible vessel carrying four tonnes of cocaine was intercepted by the Colombian navy on its way to Central America.」

　コロンビアの方で、半潜水艇を用いての犯罪は稀に聞くことがありますが。完全無人・遠隔操作でこれ、というのは私としては初耳かと。