Unmanned aircraft patrol

THE Mossos d’Esquadra is to deploy an unmanned aircraft to monitor marihuana plantations, train lines and other critical areas across Catalo‐nia.

The Mossos d’Esquadra will strengthen its Drone Unit with a new device, an unmanned, drone ‐ style, fixed‐wing aircraft.

This new aircraft will be used to pa ‐trol critical areas such as the AVE train lines, the coastline, and also in water areas to prevent marihuana plantations, which are often connect‐ed to rivers and ponds, due to the need for constant irrigation.

According to a news source on

Thursday, April 13, this unit, made up of a dozen officers and pilots works throughout the territory of Catalonia, as it’s expected to further expand its operational capacity.

Officials have now started a process to issue tenders in order to purchase this fixed‐wing drone.

Police in Spain have decided to start using these drones due to short‐comings in the present multi ‐ rotor devices that they use.

Coastal patrols can also be planned to detect and anticipate dangerous situations such weather phenomena or potential waste spills at sea or on the banks of rivers.