Julio ‘Profe’ Ibáñez and cameraman Daniel García returned to Mexico after being detained in South Africa for flying a drone near a Jewish school. They were accused of terrorism and illegal stay, and spent a week in prison before obtaining conditional release.
The journalists traveled to South Africa in March after covering South Korea for the 2026 World Cup. South African authorities burst into their rooms at five in the morning and questioned them over alleged terrorist activities.
Ibáñez and García explained that they flew the drone in several areas of the city to contrast rich and poor neighborhoods. The issue arose when they used it near a Jewish school, which prompted the complaint that led to their arrest.
After seven days in prison they were released under precautionary measures that included signing every Wednesday and not leaving the province. Two months later the case was resolved with a fine of 10 thousand rands that they plan to appeal.
On June 11 Ibáñez covered a match at Estadio Ciudad de México as part of his work for TUDN.
