Drug cartels are now using hulking drones to smuggle goods over the border

[NelsonG]

How does a drug smuggler avoid border patrol on the ground? One man figured he'd fly his 13-pound (5.9 kg) haul of meth over the border from Mexico to San Diego by drone.

Police busted the 25-year-old American citizen, Jorge Edwin Rivera, about 2,000 yards (1.83 km) from the border after spotting his drone in flight, authorities said over the weekend.

Authorities recovered the drone as well as the huge drug stash — 13 pounds of meth is worth a reported $46,000 on the streets, said border patrol — in the bust.

SEE ALSO: Army orders the removal of DJI drones, citing cyber security concerns

Unlike less ambitious operations that have come before this, Rivera was able to rely on a pretty large, professional grade drone for the heavy load, thanks to technology's advancements. Read more...

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