Thousands of Norwegian and allied soldiers from 13 countries are currently participating in the Nordic Response military exercise. In this connection, there are extra strict rules for the use of drones and other aircraft, and the police are extra vigilant. This became clear when it became known at the weekend that four foreign tourists had been arrested after flying a drone illegally. Now the police state that it is a question of four Chinese tourists packed with both photographic equipment and mobile phones. – They say they are photographers, says police attorney in Narvik, Elisabeth Nutti. Because of the Nordic Response military exercise, there are strict rules for aviation in the northern regions. Photo: CANSOFCOM / Forsvaret Three pensioners and a guide The police attorney says that on Saturday the police observed four foreign citizens flying a drone near the Nato quay which is located past Bogen towards Dragvik. – In connection with Nordic Response, which runs from 4 to 15 March, there are very strict rules with regard to both civil air traffic and drone traffic, she emphasizes. This is well informed – and most residents are aware of it, explains Nutti. – But when it comes to tourists, it is informed when they arrive in the country. When the police observed the travel party’s activity, they contacted them. They were thus charged with having flown a drone in the vicinity of the Nato quay. After questioning, the tourists must have been released on condition that they report on Sunday and Monday. Photo: Vilde Bratland Erikstad / news – There is a traveling party consisting of four Chinese citizens, explains the police attorney and adds: – They say they are photographers. Three of them are pensioners and the fourth is a guide. Everyone has a common interest in photography, especially landscapes and the northern lights. That explanation, in combination with a review of the evidence, has led to the Chinese being released. A lot of equipment, but nothing suspicious The four tourists have remained uncomprehending about the charges throughout. The police seized what Nutti describes as a lot of equipment. – Drones, cameras and memory chips that the police found in and outside their car were seized. – They had a lot of equipment with them. Lots of drones and SLR cameras. In addition, the tourists had double sets of mobile phones for all four. The review of the large volume of equipment has, however, led to a reduction in suspicion of the tourists. – The preliminary review of the seized material shows that no illegal activity has taken place, says Nutti and adds: – They have explained that they did not see the signage that was on the Nato quay. The police can understand that, because they were not on the dock. Ending the criminal case Since Saturday, the Chinese have been obliged to report. So they have been released after questioning. The evidence that has been reviewed will now be returned to the tourists. – As far as the criminal case is concerned, it is closed because we have not found anything on the drones that indicates that the Chinese tourists have done anything illegal, says Nutti. The Chinese tourists are also said to have explained in questioning that they lack more information. – They claim that in China there is good signage regarding where it is illegal to fly a drone. During the flight of the drone, a warning may also appear when you are approaching or are in zones where it is illegal to fly. According to the tourists, that should not have happened at the Nato quay. The police have not been able to reveal that there was any warning near the Nato quay.
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Four Chinese photographers flew a drone at the Nato quay during the Nordic Response – now they have been released – news Nordland
