15 ag spray drones stolen in NJ

[2muchcoffeeman]

It’s probably nothing, right?

An alarm has erupted after 15 powerful agricultural spray drones were stolen in a suspected coordinated heist in New Jersey last month.

A report from The High Side claimed the FBI is investigating the theft amid fears the machines could be used to disperse dangerous materials.

Agricultural drones are built for precision and designed to disperse large amounts of liquid over targeted areas using programmed GPS routes.

That same capability has troubled counterterrorism officials since the post-9/11 years, when fears centered on crop-duster planes flown by a lone pilot. Experts told The Hide Side that there could be 'ridiculously bad' consequences and 'a potential nightmare scenario' if terrorists get their hands on the machines.

Steve Lazarus, a retired FBI agent, told The High Side: 'The bureau is freaked out for a good reason. These aren't hobby drones with cameras.

'They're industrial sprayers designed to carry and disperse significant amounts of liquid quickly and with precision.'

He added that agricultural drones are capable of treating wide areas in a matter of minutes using pre-programmed GPS routes, a feature designed for efficient farming but one that could be dangerous if misused.

When asked about the reported theft of the drones, an FBI spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'We don't have a comment.'

The unsolved theft has revived fears that date back to the post-9/11 era, when officials warned terrorists could use crop-dusting aircraft to disperse biological or chemical agents capable of causing mass casualties across the US, according to The Hide Side report.

According to the report, the drones were stolen in March in what investigators described as a coordinated and technically advanced theft.

Reports have stated that the stolen drones are capable of dispersing large volumes of liquid across wide areas, a feature that experts said could pose serious risks if misused.​

Agricultural spray drones reportedly stolen from New Jersey facility

 

[SixToe]

That's a potentially bad scenario. They better find those quickly.

 

[dixiehack]

It was last month. I think we can rule out quickly.

I try not to be the “This should be a bigger story” guy but this should be a bigger story.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

As densely urban as North Jersey is, those stolen units might not be intended for agricultural purposes ...

 

[SixToe]

I'd never heard of ag drones and just searched for them.

Multi-rotor and quite large, like maybe the size of a wooden pallet, with a cage or implements underneath for chems. One or more of these flying down a city avenue in rush hour, or over a water source, big concert or event ... oof.

 

[Slacker]

When asked about the reported theft of the drones, an FBI spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'Booze deliveries for Director Patel. In a pinch, one can fly him to Las Vegas on weekends.'

 

[I Should Coco]

Wasn't this part of the "Goldfinger" movie? Except with human pilots trained by, um, Ms. Galore ...

 

[Webster]

Well, I feel completely not freaked out about this in Union County.

 

[TigerVols]

I'd never heard of ag drones and just searched for them.

Multi-rotor and quite large, like maybe the size of a wooden pallet, with a cage or implements underneath for chems. One or more of these flying down a city avenue in rush hour, or over a water source, big concert or event ... oof.

Let’s hope they know where Mar-A-Lago is.