Drone Covered In Meth Crashes Into Supermarket Parking Lot Near Mexico-California Border
MEXICO CITY (CBS SF ) -- A drone overloaded with methamphetamine crashed into a supermarket parking lot in Tijuana, just feet from the California border.
Tijuana police spokesman Jorge Morrua said the drone fell Tuesday night near the San Ysidro crossing at Mexico's border with California.
Six clear of the drug, weighing more than six pounds, were taped to the six-propeller remote-controlled aircraft. Based on numbers from the National Drug Abuse, the drone was carrying anywhere from $24,000–$72,000 of the illicit drug.
The Tijuana Secretary of Public Security said it's likely the drone, identified as a Spreading Wings S900 model, was unable to resist the weight of the meth bags. But according to the website of the drone manufacturer DJI, the S900 is able to carry up to 15 pounds for 18 minutes while hoovering at 3 feet. The drone can also fly automatically back and forth with GPS.
Morrua said authorities are investigating where the flight originated and who was controlling it, but it's not the first time drones have been used as drug mules.
The Tijuana Secretary of Public Security say other recent and innovative drug smuggling efforts have included catapults, ultralight aircraft and tunnels.