New Jersey’s Drone Problems Continue as Feds Recover Stolen Chemical Spraying Drones in Warehouse

Dover, NJ — Fifteen high-capacity agricultural drones worth more than $870,000 have been recovered in Morris County, weeks after a sophisticated theft from a North Jersey logistics company raised alarms about potential misuse of the equipment. New Jersey State Police and federal agents located the drones on April 27 at a warehouse in Dover, according to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark. The drones had been stolen on March 24 from CAC International in Harrison through what investigators described as a fraudulent pickup using fake credentials. The recovery ends an urgent search for equipment capable of dispersing large volumes of liquid—technology that authorities warned could pose serious risks if used improperly. High-capacity drones triggered safety concerns The stolen units were identified as Ceres Air C31 agricultural spray drones, each valued at roughly $58,000. About the size of an all-terrain vehicle, the drones are designed for large-scale farming operations. Each unit can spray between 31 and 40 gallons of liquid and cover up to 15 acres in about eight minutes. That capability quickly elevated the case beyond a standard cargo theft. Law enforcement officials raised concerns that, in the wrong hands, the drones could be used to disperse hazardous substances, prompting what