Someone stole 15 giant agricultural drones in New Jersey — and experts fear a “nightmare scenario” if they end up in the hands of terrorists.
The fleet of Ceres Air C31 drones, which are about the size of an ATV, were ripped off March 24 by a bogus delivery driver who duped shipping and logistics company CAC International in Harrison, according to The High Side substack.
The four-armed flyers can carry and spray up to 40 gallons of liquid chemicals, such as fertilizers and pesticides, and unleash the payload over a 15-acre span in just seven minutes.
The Ceres Air C31 drones that were stolen in Harrison, NJ, can spray up to 40 gallons of chemical liquid over a 15 mile span in just 7 minutes. Ceres Air The FBI is concerned the chemical-spraying drones could be used to disperse biological or chemical weapons, the report claimed.
“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,” a person who was briefed on the case told the outlet.
Retired FBI agent Steve Lazarus speculated that the drones could be easily weaponized.
“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 told The High Side.
Experts worried that the farm tools could become weapons if they ended up in the hands of nefarious actors, The High Tide reported. Ceres Air “The bureau is freaked out for a good reason,” Lazarus said. “These aren’t hobby drones with cameras. They’re industrial sprayers designed to carry and disperse significant amounts of liquid quickly and with precision.”
“What makes the thefts concerning isn’t just the equipment itself, it’s how easy they are to use once someone has them,” he said.
Each Ceres Air C31 costs about $58,000 — putting the total haul at roughly $870,000 — and dwarfs any consumer drone, with the 500-pound machines being more akin to flying heavy farm machinery.
The FBI refused to comment on any investigation. The Harrison Police Department, Ceres, and CAC International did not return requests for comments.
