Retrieving meth packages dropped by drone results in arrest for Yuma minor

Yuma sector border patrol agents arrested a minor on Wednesday for retrieving multiple packages of methamphetamine that were dropped by a drone. The unmanned aerial vehicle (AUV) crossed the border with Mexico near San Luis, and agents spotted the young man in the same area.

Yuma minor arrested for retrieving meth packages that were dropped by drone

When agents contacted the 17-year-old United States citizen, a border patrol dog reacted to something inside the car.

The agents searched the vehicle and revealed nine packages of meth. Each math package weighed more than 12 pounds, with an estimated value of $26,000, according to KTAR News.

The Yuma minor was arrested for drug possession, and the border patrol agents seized both his vehicle and the drugs.

Last month two drones carrying narcotics were intercepted by agents in separate incidents, and an estimated $303,000 worth of narcotics were ceased.

Border patrol agents urge anyone to anonymously report suspicious activity along the border by calling one 1-877-872-7435.

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Haye Kesteloo

Haye Kesteloo is a leading drone industry expert and Editor in Chief of DroneXL.co and EVXL.co, where he covers drone technology, industry developments, and electric mobility trends. With over nine years of specialized coverage in unmanned aerial systems, his insights have been featured in The New York Times, The Financial Times, and cited by The Brookings Institute, Foreign Policy, Politico and others.

Before founding DroneXL.co, Kesteloo built his expertise at DroneDJ. He currently co-hosts the PiXL Drone Show on YouTube and podcast platforms, sharing industry insights with a global audience. His reporting has influenced policy discussions and been referenced in federal documents, establishing him as an authoritative voice in drone technology and regulation. He can be reached at haye @ dronexl.co or @hayekesteloo.