The surge in technological advances has opened up new challenges for security agencies to deal with emerging crimes using tech devices. A tiny DJI drone has been reported to have been used to attempt smuggling drugs across the US border wall with Mexico. The details were contained in a recently released search warrant from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The incident happened back on October 7, 2021, and involved a DJI Mini 2 drone dropping a quantity of meth up to its weight and was discovered by the US Border Patrol. It would seem that drug dealers are availing themselves of cheap consumer drones that could be used to fly packets of hard drugs into the United States. The DEA search warrant relates to the investigation to unmask the owner of the DJI Mini 2 drone, while the suspected recipient in the US is also to be unmasked.
The drone was observed on the specified day moving above the 25-foot border wall and landed on a parking lot while a man inside a grey Mercedes was waiting behind to pick up the package before it was intercepted by border security agents. The 249g drone was then discovered to be carrying 259g of methamphetamine. It is believed that the DJI Mini 2 can carry loads up to twice its weight for short distances.
The area where the incidence happened is reported to have seen substantial activities of drug cartels who continue to seek ways to sustain their criminal business of drug trafficking. It is not clear at this time whether the DEA will seek flight and ownership information for the drone from DJI to track the actual owner. In such instances, drone makers ought to provide all the needed information to help curb this emerging dimension of drug trafficking.
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