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Federal authorities have recovered 15 stolen industrial jets capable of dispersing liquid chemicals, but a former Department of Homeland Security official warns the big question remains unanswered: were they stolen for “quick money,” or “to facilitate actions against the country?”
Fifteen Ceres Air C31 drones were stolen from CAC International, a logistics and transportation company in Harrison, New Jersey, on March 24, according to Dr. The High Side A small stake. The drones were found a month later on April 27 in Dover, New Jersey.
In an earlier statement to Fox News, New Jersey State Police said the drones were found at Prudent Corporation, a trucking company with a warehouse in the area.
“On April 27th, the New Jersey State Police Cargo Theft Unit recovered 15 stolen agricultural drones and spraying systems. These drones are listed as agricultural drones due to their stated function as registered crop dusters. The theft occurred on March 24th at CAC International, a transportation and shipping company located in Harrison, NJ. These drones are located in PJ, NJ. An ongoing investigation is underway to assist Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Patrol.
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HSI agents recovered the stolen drones on April 27. (HSI Newark)
Although the drones have been discovered, Vincent Martinez, a former member of the DHS's terrorism response team and director of service development at ZeroEyes, told Fox News Digital that he “can't overstate the danger that this poses.”
While Martinez said it's good the drones were found, he warned big questions remain unanswered.
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“Where were these intended to land? Who is using the high end? Were they intended for a quick buck – or to make it easier to fight the country?” he said.
In the wrong hands, Martinez warned, drones “could” be a “big threat,” especially if they are loaded with a chemical agent and spread in a populated area, which he believes is the most important thing.
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A drone is shown flying over a residential area. (Stock)
“Because of its design and nature, that is the main concern in and of itself. Who is really conducting the theft, where are they going, who is funding and funding these? It is a litany of different levels of escalation that we really have to look at when we do the investigation,” said Martinez.
He said it is “not difficult” for the enemy to equip these types of drones with proper training and experience.
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“It doesn't take a rocket scientist to get into the root menu of a lot of these hardware systems. What it takes is a lot of open source knowledge and acumen to have technical knowledge and technical sound. You can get into almost any drone platform. And there are a lot of rules and regulations especially with the FAA that prevent that. But I would argue that using these against a hostile country, allow it or not just be hard, allow it or not be hard. They have to know how to do the research how to do it,” said Martinez.
In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, Ceres Air said “there is no risk of unauthorized use.”
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An airplane flies over the ocean in the morning, capturing the aerial view as the sun rises. (Stock)
“Ceres systems are built with multiple layers of control, including secure activation protocols, remote locking capabilities, and isolated battery devices. Without proper authorization, these units cannot operate,” the company said.
“This situation highlights a broader reality in the drone industry. When systems are built and supported domestically, there is accountability. Our devices are fully traceable through serial sequencing and integrated support networks, all within the USA. They are indestructible, and do not operate outside of controlled channels. We build our systems in the United States so they can be tracked here, secured quickly and resolved in a crisis.”
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In total, the Ceres Air C31 is worth about $58,000, meaning about $870,000 worth of equipment was allegedly stolen.
These flights are suspected to be stolen by a company transport driver, according to The High Side Substack. The report says that a fake bill of lading was presented during the pick-up of the flights, and CAC International is said to consider them to be legitimate.
