DJI Mini 2 drone used to smuggle drugs across US-Mexico border

A small DJI Mini 2 drone has been used to smuggle drugs into the US. Very light but powerful enough to get over a wall from Mexico.

Drones can perform a variety of functions. Today there are also all sizes, with a very diverse range of accessories, to fulfill a wide variety of tasks, both for professionals and individuals. And as always, some distract them from their original intentions. Do you know, for example, that some of them are used for drug smuggling?

A small DJI Mini 2 drone has been used to smuggle drugs into the US.

The drones were clearly not designed for this, but it turns out that these small aircraft are once again being used to smuggle drugs into the US from Mexico. We’ve heard of drones being used for smuggling and even providing aerial support for prisoner escapes, but what’s interesting about the case we’re dealing with today is how the drone was used.

Indeed, according to a recent wanted notice released by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) — the agency responsible for fighting drug trafficking and distribution in the United States — it appears that in October 2021, the Campo border patrol post in Tecate spotted a drone flying over a 25-foot (7.62 m) high fence before a gray Mercedes arrived and the man attempted to pick up the drone. The man in question was arrested before reaching his goal.

Very light but strong enough to climb a wall from Mexico.

The drone used was a DJI Mini 2. This is a small drone compared to regular drones and is not necessarily designed to carry anything. The drone itself weighs 249 grams, but the package it carried weighed more than the device itself at 259 grams. At the same time, for such a short trip across the border, it is quite possible to use such a drone to transport cargo in excess of its own weight.

Now the authorities will analyze the data from the drone and, in particular, those on its microSD card. They may even request additional data from the drone manufacturer, namely DJI. One thing is certain, the fight against drugs, and in particular the control of this border with Mexico, is far from over.