Morocco with drone?
 

I'll be heading into Morocco from Spain in a couple of days. I am on a KTM 1190 Adventure and have been travelling with a drone. I've heard drones are essentially illegal in Morocco. Has anyone had any experience with this? I went through Tangier Med customs last year but without a drone, they all seemed pretty chill there. I don't want them to try and confiscate it or anything... I'm taking it through Africa

Maybe THIS will help!:thumbup1:

It says they confiscate it until you leave back to your country, ...wtf am I supposed to do via overland to Mauritania -__-

At least they don't throw you in jail and confiscate your vehicle, like happened to this poor chap entering Egypt.
Don't think all of Africa is ready for drones yet.

This subject has been done to death a couple of times on the TripAdvisor Moroccan forum. To import the drone is illegal, however I've never heard of anyone being searched on the way in for several years.

To use the drone in Morocco, however, is super-dooper illegal and you could expect to see the inside of a cell whilst the authorities decide what to do.

The fourth anniversary of the Marrakech bomb was four days ago and I'm with the authorities with this, it would be all too easy to use a drone for an attack.

Hey, thanks too much for your reply.

I respect the Moroccan laws, I'm happy to not fly during the Moroccan transit. I just don't want to have to find a place to leave my drone for the whole of West Africa - especially for use in remote regions with absolutely nobody around, just good bike footage.

Could you tell me what is the typical process when taking the ferry from Tarifa to Tangier Med? I was intending to leave my luggage on my bike and lock it all up, do they usually put all your gear through xrays or look in your bags?? If it is likely I can get through customs without them checking my gear, I'd probably risk taking the drone and leaving it on the back of my bike. If not then I will find a place to leave it in Spain... it could end up being a real headache if they want to confiscate it after the ferry. What are your thoughts?

Cheers

The only time I've been asked about my luggage entering Morocco is coming north from Mauritania, coming into Western Sahara of course. After denying I had any knives etc, they did not check, I was told to join the queue for the xray. We were taken into a large building, left the vehicles and they were xrayed by a machine on rails. Nothing incrimating was found, to my relief.

I've not even been asked about my luggage on entering from Spain, and never been searched, or seen anyone else searched.

Does anyone else have any experience coming from Spain to Tangier? Were you searched? I went on the ferry 9 months ago but don't remember if I was searched/xrayed or not

I just returned from Morocco last night and never got searched when entering at Tangier Med 3 weeks ago. They were more interested in searching cars and vans stuffed full of tat than looking in motorcycle panniers. Have a great trip.

If you mention "Mauretania" at Tanger Med you get xrayed. But probably not bikes.
The place to get in trouble in Morocco is Dahkla Junction, beware. I left my camera and binoculars on the passenger seat and was interrogated.
Mauretania could also give you trouble. Like Algeria, Libya, Egypt and Niger.
Only time I saw a drone in use in Morocco was at the cascades Imouzzer

Never had a search on a moto at any Mk port either, but as said, it may not just be Moroccan authorities who take a dim view, so use with caution or local approval.
In the Sahel military drones are used and may be the cause of paranoia/misunderstandings.
Is it an auto-following drone, out if interest?

Hey Chris,

If all goes well I'll be taking the ferry Friday morning. I think I'm going to chance it and take it anyway leaving it with my luggage on the bike while going with the ferry... I hope to christ they don't search or xray any of my gear on my bike. The drone is a DJI Phantom 3 Pro, runs about 800gbp hence why I don't want it confiscated or having to ferry back to Spain to post it somewhere. The Phantom 3 Pro does have a follow-me feature, and can use digital tracking now too via third party apps. It is an incredibly powerful drone when used with some of these apps now and what I feel is a necessity on a RTW trip.

That's quite bulky - better shove it in your sleeping bag.
As you may know https://twowheelednomad.com are now using a DJI too.
It takes up the space, but as you say currently there are no shortcuts if you want to shoot worthwhile stuff.

Maybe things have lightened up but last time I went through from Ceuta on a bike (a few years ago now) I had my luggage searched. I wasn't that thorough a search but it would have found something drone sized. When I asked what he was looking for he said "guns and knives".

Fortunately I didn't have any - maybe I just look suspicious :rofl:

I got searched at Tangier - the city, not med. It was a half assed search for sure, but I did have to open the boxes, they had a little rummage through my inner bags, even flicked through some books and asked what they were about. So conceal it well!

I entered Morocco at Tangier Med with a drone in March this year (a Cheerson CX20 with a Walkera G2 gimbal if anyone's interested), I had no idea about the laws regarding drones until I read this thread! The drone was in the back seat of my pickup on top of a couple of boxes and in absolute clear view of the authorities.

I was searched on the way in and on the way out, again with the drone just sitting there. No one seemed in the slightest bit interested in it. I only got around to flying it twice, once up at Lake Tislit near Imilchil and once at Erg Chebbi. Waste of time taking it to be honest, I crashed the bloody thing into a sand dune.

Can confirm that Tangier Med does not check motorcycles (for future reference). Made it in with the drone

Good News
 

I'm taking my Phantom in with me early January. It will be in a backpack specific too the Phantom, still hoping bikes and backpacks are not being searched.

Drones
 

Hi Guys, just wondering if anybody has had any problems taking a drone quadcopter in to Morocco?
We have heard that its not allowed, but have also seen video footage that has obviously been taken by drone.

Gaz

I saw a guy in Zagora with a drone get take away by the police after they established he didn't have a permit. Also heard of them being confiscated at the airport.

But as you say there's a good number of films around shot by drone


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Looks like if i,m going to take one it will be a much cheaper one than I usually use, as I really cant afford to lose the big one.
Cant seem to find out how to get a permit.
Gaz

Besides sneaking it in (surely easy enough), I think the trick is simply be smart where you use it, just like photos in the old days.
The front cover of the new Morocco 3 is a great drone shot.
Permits I suspect are a red herring which will take weeks or months or forever.

On the pistes we've been last few days I can't see anyone ever seeing or knowing or caring.
Is it DJI Mavic that folds up compactly?
WLT use one of those one of these days.

Not good news!:(

https://mavicpilots.com/threads/moro...ur-drone.8413/

I found this.... Morocco Drone Laws – UAV Systems International

Airport is a big difference; I would not risk bringing a drone in like that.
I was thinking more arriving Tan Med port - never more than a cursory search bike or car, although they do scan cars on the way out...

Thanks for drone laws link - tightening up all RTW, it seems.

Yes airports is not a good enter point if you carry a drone..
In 2012 i enter Marocco from Tarifa(spain)to Tanger (old port) with my XT600 i pay 10 euros in a yellow vest guy and in 15 minutes i was in Marocco...
No luggage search no nothing....!
Just be careful and dont fly it in a touristic area that police can be there because if they see you they take it immediately...
A TV travel show from greece fly it in morocco police see them and take it.!! They never took it back...

Looks like its that old cliche then,
"if you cant afford to lose it , dont risk it."
Like Chris said, the Mavic would probably be the best to take, as the DJI Phantoms are a bit large to hide in the luggage really.

Gaz

I've just come back from Marrakech, I was with a film company I do some work for and I also fly drones commercially here in the UK.

It's an absolute no-no re drones, you'll be lucky to get it back and a fine, the film company uses a special permit to fly them, or they can involve one of 2 Moroccan drone film companies.

It's a shame, I'd love to fly any of my drones there, but thanks to an idiot a few yrs back who flew over the Royal palace, they've been banned ever since.

Took mine in.
 

Just got back from a trip and took my Mavic Pro in.

Ferry to Tangier Med from Spain the customs guy just asked if I had a handgun. Never even got close to looking in a bag.

Placed the drone and the controller both in socks and put them in the middle of all my not so clean underwear from the previous few days. Just in case they searched.

Used the drone a few times but only in really remote places. No issues at all with people , however , in the mountains I quickly attracted some huge birds looking for some dinner so flights were very short.

Usual Story, some twat ruins it for everyone

Try a dashcam and an helium balloon. Works pretty good, easy to hide and cost next to nothing.

And you wonder why drones are banned in Morocco...

Police launch investigation after Mexican tourists flew a drone over the Rabat Royal Palace: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/201...-royal-palace/

If they were flying the type of drone pictured in that report I can see why they got in trouble ;-)

Tim; Thx for sharing, what is wrong with people!? Sadly, reading each Countries rules/regs and customs before visiting isn't compulsory.

Chris; LOL, yes indeed, a reaper overhead would cause the :funmeterno: to drop a little. :)

I hope they weren't as that's a military one!, usual quality newspaper reporting!!:rofl:

Possibly in connection to the incident Tim posted but I've just heard that customs at Tanger Med are now specifically asking if people have drones.

And yesterday we were even asked at the airport in Agadir, if we had drones on us (we were exiting Morocco).

http://montjoye.net/drone-maroc-loi-interdiction

Some info, in french but google translate does a reasonable job.

Worse case if your caught 1000 Euro fine, confiscation of the drone. And the potential for 5-10 years in a Moroccan prison


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I was asked about drones when entering in Nador. And also heard from quite a few others that it is being asked t other entry points (ceuta & tanger med).

Drones in Maroc
 

OK, I know they're not allowed!

Has anyone taken one in? And more importantly, had a run-in with the authorities?

I'd love to take some footage out in the desert, and the High Atlas but not sure what the risks are. Confiscation no doubt, but is there a risk of worse? I don't want to be one of those people who appear now and then in the news, banged up and accused of spying by the Moroccan authorities! I have a 'second' drone which I could accept the loss of at a push. I've heard of people having them confiscated on entry, presumably via air, but I'd think they'd be a little less likely to be discovered in the bottom of a pannier.

Interestingly I went to Cuba last year, where they're banned, but near the massive Che Guevara images (forget the name) there was a 'No Drones' sign, which sort of indicates that although they're banned, they realise they are about.

You’ll get asked at customs but they don’t really search.

I’ve seen one guy with one get matched off with a police escort and met a couple who were caught last May. They were caught at customs but allowed to take it back to Spain straight away.

Fines are pretty hefty if you do get caught.


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I was thinking about sneaking a little one in and then I thought the hassle and worry for a few scene setting shots which would be pretty amazing, id admit, was not worth the worry.


Better to take a normal camera and do your best with that. walk up a hill, or find a high spot.


You don't want to worry about ruining you trip because of a buzzy camera in your panniers.

Bring a Mavic Air in your pocket.

Yes it's an Air, maybe that is the best place? Few years since I've been, I can't remember what/where they look? Not that much as I recall.

Yes I was wondering if it's worth the stress! Bad enough flying on National Trust land :-D

Yeah I know what you mean with the National Trust, lanC, and English Heritage, both a pain in the *** unless you cross their palms with silver. A recent shoot at Stonehenge cost us, or the company we were asked to film for, £1500, taking the michael.



Back to Maroc, drone confiscated (the less stressful option) but also up to €5000 fine and up to 10yrs in prison. Only because some tourists (Mexican I think) were caught flying over he Rabat Royal palace, it really doesn't help!


Drones are banned, but your choice, of course. There is a small room at Marrakech airport, which apparently is full of drones and which one of my contacts is trying to buy job lot.


Commerically it is relatively easy to fly, if you have a local contact/fixer with a permit, and about $5000 upwards to grease the wheels.



Just my 2p worth, safe travels, and flying.

Hello Ian:

I entered Morocco a week ago, and the customs guy only asked me two questions: "Any guns? Any drones?"

This suggests to me that the Moroccans are pretty serious about not wanting drones in the country. Consider also that all internet access to Google Earth is blocked in Morocco.

The country is very heavily policed - not that difficult to understand, given the political difficulties in neighboring countries, the lack of any terrorist activity in Morocco, and the still unresolved dispute about ownership of Western Sahara.

I think that the consequences of being caught with a drone might be severe - it is very possible that the police might decide to crucify the first tourist they find using a drone, just to make a point (via news reports) that they don't want drones in the country.

Michael

That was presumably a vehicular entry. May I ask where, and was it a two or four-wheeler?

Entered twice recently, once in a 4x4 which was actively searched for a drone, the second time on a bike when I was asked.

Yes in both cases I could have smuggled in my Mavic Air but I generally obey laws.

Hello:

It was on my motorcycle, a Honda ST 1100, at Tangier Med port.

Michael

"..generally.." :)

I am the same way

Not the least worried about bringing my Air to Africa.
That's why I bought it.

I'm planning a trip for next year, where I'll be going through Spain to get to Morocco, but then I'll be going back to Spain for riding there and in Portugal afterwards. Does anybody know if there's any places near the port in Spain where I could rent a locker to store my drone until I return?

I was just watching a YT review of the Pistenkuh guide (in German so can't understand) as the Pistenkuh website doesn't give many details.
I noticed this govt address for drone permits in Mk.
Maybe widely available online but can't say I've ever looked.

Don't know the process/requirements either, but drone shots sure to elevate the imagery.
Pistenkuh are out there now making the Rekkam looked pretty good with some amazing aerial images - and presumably the official permit to go with it.
https://pistenkuh.de/socialx/