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Cartels Are Using Drones to Smuggle Meth
posted in Off Topic
1
#1
0 Frags +

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/cartels-are-using-untraceable-drones-to-smuggle-meth?utm_source=mbfbvn

Found this article interesting. Police found a crashed drone with 6 pounds of meth near the border. They used a high end quad copter that is normally used to carry a DSLR camera. $1400 for the quad copter + a few hundred for the GPS add on. That's a drop in the bucket compared to the street price of 6 pounds of meth.

The crazy thing is, I can't even think of a single reasonable way to currently enforce these drones.

The only thing I can think of that might be possible would be to have highly sensitive radar detect the drone, then send another drone to chase it and take it out, or maybe the other drone has a GPS blocker which causes the illegal drone to crash.

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/cartels-are-using-untraceable-drones-to-smuggle-meth?utm_source=mbfbvn

Found this article interesting. Police found a crashed drone with 6 pounds of meth near the border. They used a high end quad copter that is normally used to carry a DSLR camera. $1400 for the quad copter + a few hundred for the GPS add on. That's a drop in the bucket compared to the street price of 6 pounds of meth.

The crazy thing is, I can't even think of a single reasonable way to currently enforce these drones.

The only thing I can think of that might be possible would be to have highly sensitive radar detect the drone, then send another drone to chase it and take it out, or maybe the other drone has a GPS blocker which causes the illegal drone to crash.
2
#2
0 Frags +

Isn't this like a year old?

Here's some stuff: http://dronecenter.bard.edu/what-you-need-to-know-about-domestic-drone-threats/
Nothing's perfect of course and things are still being developed but drones aren't these unstoppable machines like some people make them out to be.

Isn't this like a year old?

Here's some stuff: http://dronecenter.bard.edu/what-you-need-to-know-about-domestic-drone-threats/
Nothing's perfect of course and things are still being developed but drones aren't these unstoppable machines like some people make them out to be.
3
#3
0 Frags +

They don't need to be unstoppable, as the price comes down the cartels will have thousands of the things flying around, it doesn't even matter if half of them are shot down.

They don't need to be unstoppable, as the price comes down the cartels will have thousands of the things flying around, it doesn't even matter if half of them are shot down.
4
#4
-6 Frags +
JarateKingIsn't this like a year old?

Here's some stuff: http://dronecenter.bard.edu/what-you-need-to-know-about-domestic-drone-threats/
Nothing's perfect of course and things are still being developed but drones aren't these unstoppable machines like some people make them out to be.

Well someone linked me the article today. It being a year old, doesn't make it any less relevant. :)

I do think though drones do pose a larger threat to national security than people give them credit. Picture an outdoor event with some highly powerful and important people. 20 programmed drones all come flying in taking different paths each with 5 pounds of C4 explosives on them rigged with remote detonation. And this kind of scenario could be accomplished with not a whole lot of resources or money (<50K$ probably).

I think the only way to protect against something like this happening would be to employ GPS blockers.

pissheadThey don't need to be unstoppable, as the price comes down the cartels will have thousands of the things flying around, it doesn't even matter if half of them are shot down.

I guess the only real way to some-what stop them, would be to follow the drone and find out where the delivery is being made so arrests can be made.

It looks like that drone was carrying a couple hundred thousand dollars worth of retail cocaine. Maybe 50-100K wholesale.

[quote=JarateKing]Isn't this like a year old?

Here's some stuff: http://dronecenter.bard.edu/what-you-need-to-know-about-domestic-drone-threats/
Nothing's perfect of course and things are still being developed but drones aren't these unstoppable machines like some people make them out to be.[/quote]

Well someone linked me the article today. It being a year old, doesn't make it any less relevant. :)

I do think though drones do pose a larger threat to national security than people give them credit. Picture an outdoor event with some highly powerful and important people. 20 programmed drones all come flying in taking different paths each with 5 pounds of C4 explosives on them rigged with remote detonation. And this kind of scenario could be accomplished with not a whole lot of resources or money (<50K$ probably).

I think the only way to protect against something like this happening would be to employ GPS blockers.

[quote=pisshead]They don't need to be unstoppable, as the price comes down the cartels will have thousands of the things flying around, it doesn't even matter if half of them are shot down.[/quote]

I guess the only real way to some-what stop them, would be to follow the drone and find out where the delivery is being made so arrests can be made.

It looks like that drone was carrying a couple hundred thousand dollars worth of retail cocaine. Maybe 50-100K wholesale.
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#5
0 Frags +

never even thought about it, but it makes so much sense for the drug industry to use drones..

never even thought about it, but it makes so much sense for the drug industry to use drones..
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#6
2 Frags +

In your article:

With some of these scenarios, it is unlikely that drones pose a unique threat, at least not any more so than an attacker on the ground. Even if one were able to acquire lightweight explosives or chemical agents to attach to a drone, the physical size of commercially available drones creates limitations on the attacker’s ability to inflict harm. A DJI Phantom, for example, has a payload capacity of around 1.8 lbs. Off-the-shelf drones generally cannot fly for more than 20 to 30 minutes, and they have a limited range, so an attacker would need to be close to the target. Heavier payloads also diminish range and flight times. Of greater consequence is the potential that an attacker would use a drone to inflict psychological harm—to produce terror—or to conduct assassinations. Even in these scenarios, however, the natural operational limitations on covert activity of this kind of sophistication and complexity would likely doom any plans to use drones for lethal effect.

In his statement to Congress on March 18, Dr. Greg McNeal cautioned against overstating the risks posed by drones and encouraged federal agencies to undertake comprehensive risk assessments before embarking on developing countermeasures. “Congress should ensure that agencies are as concerned with the probability of harm as they are of the possibility of a worst-case scenario,” McNeal explained.

In other words, you can probably achieve a greater effect with a far more simplistic plan.

In your article:

[quote]With some of these scenarios, it is unlikely that drones pose a unique threat, at least not any more so than an attacker on the ground. Even if one were able to acquire lightweight explosives or chemical agents to attach to a drone, the physical size of commercially available drones creates limitations on the attacker’s ability to inflict harm. A DJI Phantom, for example, has a payload capacity of around 1.8 lbs. Off-the-shelf drones generally cannot fly for more than 20 to 30 minutes, and they have a limited range, so an attacker would need to be close to the target. Heavier payloads also diminish range and flight times. Of greater consequence is the potential that an attacker would use a drone to inflict psychological harm—to produce terror—or to conduct assassinations. Even in these scenarios, however, the natural operational limitations on covert activity of this kind of sophistication and complexity would likely doom any plans to use drones for lethal effect.

In his statement to Congress on March 18, Dr. Greg McNeal cautioned against overstating the risks posed by drones and encouraged federal agencies to undertake comprehensive risk assessments before embarking on developing countermeasures. “Congress should ensure that agencies are as concerned with the probability of harm as they are of the possibility of a worst-case scenario,” McNeal explained.[/quote]

In other words, you can probably achieve a greater effect with a far more simplistic plan.
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#7
0 Frags +

dawg colombians where using remote control submarines in the just a couple of years ago.
http://www.businessinsider.com/cartel-narco-submarines-2015-4
not surprised in the slightest bit.

dawg colombians where using remote control submarines in the just a couple of years ago.
http://www.businessinsider.com/cartel-narco-submarines-2015-4
not surprised in the slightest bit.
8
#8
marketplace.tf
-4 Frags +

It shouldn't be too hard for the border patrol to set up jammers, though.

It shouldn't be too hard for the border patrol to set up jammers, though.
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#9
8 Frags +

Just hire some kids to shoot them down. I'd love that job, 8$/hr shooting things out of the sky, its like a young North Carolinian dream.

Just hire some kids to shoot them down. I'd love that job, 8$/hr shooting things out of the sky, its like a young North Carolinian dream.
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#10
-2 Frags +

Remember this?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito_laser
http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/aerospace/military/laser-bug-zapper-inches-to-market-

Switch from solar to grid powered and scale up. Against drones which are much larger (combined with higher power output) the ranger would be higher so you could for example lock down the Mexico-US border with a few thousand.

You don't even need to "kill" all drones, just making it less or completely unprofitable is fine. Even if you don't manage that as long as you get a significant number of drones you get clues. Just like when someone's pulling 100kW if someone buys the third $1000+ drone in a month you should probably go check.

Also lasers are cool. I'm pretty sure killer lasers on the border would be fun.

Remember this?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito_laser
http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/aerospace/military/laser-bug-zapper-inches-to-market-

Switch from solar to grid powered and scale up. Against drones which are much larger (combined with higher power output) the ranger would be higher so you could for example lock down the Mexico-US border with a few thousand.

You don't even need to "kill" all drones, just making it less or completely unprofitable is fine. Even if you don't manage that as long as you get a significant number of drones you get clues. Just like when someone's pulling 100kW if someone buys the third $1000+ drone in a month you should probably go check.

Also lasers are cool. I'm pretty sure killer lasers on the border would be fun.
11
#11
-3 Frags +
nickplusJust hire some kids to shoot them down. I'd love that job, 8$/hr shooting things out of the sky, its like a young North Carolinian dream.

I'd bet there's people in Texas willing to do it for free in their spare time. I know if I still lived by the border I probably would. Highly doubtful the guvmint would implement that sort of plan though.

[quote=nickplus]Just hire some kids to shoot them down. I'd love that job, 8$/hr shooting things out of the sky, its like a young North Carolinian dream.[/quote]

I'd bet there's people in Texas willing to do it for free in their spare time. I know if I still lived by the border I probably would. Highly doubtful the guvmint would implement that sort of plan though.
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#12
0 Frags +

Better than smuggling them inside puppies.

Better than smuggling them inside puppies.
13
#13
0 Frags +

A bit off topic but remember when Samy created this?:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHKV01YQX_w

1- Buy a drone and a Raspberry Pi
2- Find meth drone route
3- Capture meth drone
4- Profit

A bit off topic but remember when Samy created this?:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHKV01YQX_w

1- Buy a drone and a Raspberry Pi
2- Find meth drone route
3- Capture meth drone
4- Profit
14
#14
0 Frags +

WE NEED TO BUILD A WALL...... oh wait a second

WE NEED TO BUILD A WALL...... oh wait a second
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#15
-1 Frags +

Speaking of drones, they are now banned in a 30 mile radius around DC. RIP hobbyist groups.

http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/dc/2015/12/28/dc-drone-ban-30-miles/77993596/

Speaking of drones, they are now banned in a 30 mile radius around DC. RIP hobbyist groups.

http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/dc/2015/12/28/dc-drone-ban-30-miles/77993596/
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#16
0 Frags +
Geel9It shouldn't be too hard for the border patrol to set up jammers, though.

It would be impossible to set up stationary blockers / jammers. Some quadcopters are capable of flying at altitudes of 10,000 feet or higher.

Also regarding lasers or radar to track them down. How do you tell the difference between a drone and a bird?

nickplusJust hire some kids to shoot them down. I'd love that job, 8$/hr shooting things out of the sky, its like a young North Carolinian dream.

Good luck seeing and shooting a drone that is several thousand feet in the air.

[quote=Geel9]It shouldn't be too hard for the border patrol to set up jammers, though.[/quote]

It would be impossible to set up stationary blockers / jammers. Some quadcopters are capable of flying at altitudes of 10,000 feet or higher.

Also regarding lasers or radar to track them down. How do you tell the difference between a drone and a bird?

[quote=nickplus]Just hire some kids to shoot them down. I'd love that job, 8$/hr shooting things out of the sky, its like a young North Carolinian dream.[/quote]

Good luck seeing and shooting a drone that is several thousand feet in the air.
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