It was bound to happen.
A quadcopter has recently crashed into a Mexican supermarket parking lot located somewhere near the country's California border, and one of the possible reasons is that its payload was just too heavy for it. No, it wasn't carrying cameras or even fertilizer: it was loaded with meth. More than six whole pounds of methamphetamine, to be precise, piled and taped on top of the poor six-propeller drone-turned-drug-mule. Authorities are still investigating where the package came from, where it was headed and which real-life Walter White had the not-so-brilliant idea of strapping too much drugs to a small flying contraption.
According to Tijuana police spokesperson Jorge Morrua, this isn't the first time they've seen a drone used to deliver drugs. Something similar happened in South Carolina last year, as well, when a drone carrying weed, cellphones and cigarettes was caught outside a prison fence. Then again, we probably shouldn't be surprised: after all, drones can fly and carry payload in the process, making it an feasible option for ferrying illegal substances across fences and borders.
Comments
Lol, that amazon link is just hilarious! Loved the review where they advise to use pixhawk for the mission :) the best PR for pixhawk... DJI controller you cannot trust $2mil worth of payload :) classic DJI return to china mode.....
http://www.amazon.com/review/R3T84BKLAKQUFD/ref=cm_cr_dp_cmt?ie=UTF...
Title should read: "10,000th drug drone flight finally crashes, idiots at DEA bury heads further into sand."
real key to crash here is the lack of telemetry data which would have quickly told the operator that he was operating WAY over 50% throttle.. what happens with DJI autopilots :) no telemetry :(
hzl
It sure beats taking photos of crappy houses for your local real estate agent. You could also argue that the average drug baron has better morals.
I see new opportunities for UAV consulting here. To paraphrase from the movie Sneakers, "there I was in prison where I helped a few elderly gentlemen to make some free phone calls, next thing I know I'm running all the encryption systems for the mafia".
Classical flay away. =) Reporters must be contunued write dat crime drama.
"Operator found dead killed by mexican mafia cartel. He was was by panished due lost of huge amont delivery, because he could not provide compensation for losses in amount of some millions bucks" lol
Another news story of this had in a mall parking lot 2 miles from the border. Little far to go for what there is.