Industrial drones valued at close to $870,000, designed for dispersing large volumes of liquid chemicals, were reportedly stolen from a New Jersey-based company. This incident has been described as a potential “nightmare scenario,” according to a recent report.
The theft involved fifteen Ceres Air C31 drones, taken from CAC International in Harrison, N.J., on March 24. The High Side Substack reported that a delivery driver allegedly tricked the company to execute the heist.
Fortunately, the New Jersey State Police announced Monday that the stolen drones have been recovered, as per a statement given to Fox News Digital.
“On April 27, the New Jersey State Police Cargo Theft Unit successfully retrieved 15 stolen agricultural drones and their spray systems. These drones, classified as agricultural due to their function as registered crop dusters, were taken on March 24 from CAC International, a logistics and shipping firm in Harrison, NJ. They were located at Prudent Corporation in Dover, NJ. The investigation is ongoing, with Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Patrol providing assistance. At this time, no further details are available,” stated the New Jersey State Police.
An image shows a drone flying over a residential area. (iStock)
Each Ceres Air C31 drone has a price tag of approximately $58,000, totaling nearly $870,000 for the stolen equipment.
The report said that a fraudulent bill of lading was shown when picking up the drones, and CAC International allegedly considered them legitimate.
The drones are equipped to hold and spray up to 40 gallons of liquid chemicals, reportedly causing concern inside the U.S. government.
“This was one of the most highly sophisticated thefts [the FBI] have seen in a long time, which is the main thing that has them so spooked,” said an individual who was briefed on the situation, according to the report.
A drone flies in the sky during a demonstration by Chinese drone maker DJI in Montreal, Canada, on Nov. 13, 2019, showcasing an app that tracks drone registration and ownership. (Reuters)
Former FBI agent Steve Lazarus said the drones could be a danger to the public.
“Even common chemicals, used improperly, can be a public safety danger. Throw in the Internet recipes for biological and chemical weapons that anyone with a Tor browser has access to, and this is a potential nightmare scenario,” Lazarus said in an interview with The High Side. “These aren’t hobby drones with cameras. They’re industrial sprayers designed to carry and disperse significant amounts of liquid quickly and with precision.”
A drone flies over the ocean at dawn, capturing aerial views as the sun rises. (iStock)
“The bureau is freaked out for a good reason,” Lazarus said.
The U.S. Army raised concerns in a 2020 report, stating that such chemical-spraying drones could be used in attacks.
“Such drones are readily available and could be used as a delivery system for chemical or biological attacks,” said the report.
“A UAS [chemical or biological warfare] delivery platform is a definite possibility, especially for developing nations,” the report said.
Fox News Digital reached out to the FBI, Harrison Police Department, Ceres and CAC International for comment.
