The little drone that could… flew its own weight in drugs

The little drone that could… flew its own weight in drugs across the border with . A 249g weighing DJI Mini 2 flew 259 g of methamphetamine across the US border wall.

On October 7, 2021, according to the affidavit, a was seen flying over the 25-foot high border fence that separates the and Mexico.

DEA agent, Sean Turpie who is with the San Ysidro District Office witnessed the mini drone flying across the border and land in a nearby parking lot.

Within moments a grey Mercedes-Benz arrived with a man ready to pick up the drone and its illegal payload. Before he could take off, however, the agent intervened.

The little drone is under investigation

Now the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the drone and looking for evidence that might help them identify the drone pilot, according to a recently released search warrant.

The search warrant does not specify if the Chinese drone maker DJI will be asked to work with the DEA and share information about the drone, its owner, and this particular flight.

Various videos (here and here) on show that a DJI mini 2 can in fact carry more than its own weight for a brief period.

In this area, it is common for human / narcotics smuggling organizations to use drones to fly over the boundary fence and assist and / or facilitate their criminal operations in the United States,” the agent said.

The little drone did not fly very far and landed in one of the parking lots right across the US-Mexico border.

The Little Drone That Could... Flew Its Own Weight In Drugs 1

You can find the warrant here.

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Haye Kesteloo
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.

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