A DJI Mavic Air 2 was used to smuggle drugs from Johor Bahru to Singapore last week. It’s definitely an unconventional way to use drones, to be sure. This may be what led to the discovery of the use, as well as the arrest of some of the people involved.
According to a joint news release by both the Singapore Police Force and the country’s Central Narcotics Bureau, the police detected “unusual unmanned aircraft activity” around Kranji Reservoir Park last Wednesday, 17 June. The unmanned aircraft in question appears to be a DJI Mavic Air 2. The drone was also seen to be carrying a black bag containing 278g of crystal methamphetamine, or Ice.
Polis buru lelaki Singapura, Mohd Azli Ahmad Said atau juga dikenali “Boy Setan” untuk bantu siasatan kes seludup dadah guna dron – Ketua Polis Johor pic.twitter.com/4cIgqeYaN8
— Mohd Redzuan Abdul Manap (@redzuanNewsMPB) June 22, 2020
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The police arrested two men believed to be operating the drone. According to the drone’s flight data pulled from one of the suspect’s phone, the DJI Mavic Air 2 was flown from the reservoir park to Johor Bahru and back that day. Follow-up investigations led to the arrest of another man, believed to be a trafficker, and a woman who is believed to be a drug abuser. Locally, Johor police are also looking for a Singaporean national known as “Boy Setan” to assist with investigations.
As mentioned, it’s certainly an unusual way to use a drone. And it’s a relatively new drone at that too – the Mavic Air 2 was made available around the middle of May.
(Source: Central Narcotics Bureau Singapore via CNA, @redzuanNewsMPB / Twitter)
