15 stolen chemical-spraying drones recovered in NJ warehouse after employee sounds alarm
Fifteen stolen agricultural drones capable of spraying chemicals were recovered in a New Jersey warehouse after an employee alerted authorities. The drones, taken in late March using forged documents, had raised concerns over potential misuse as weaponized devices. The investigation is being handled by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with the thief still at large. The drones were found at a trucking company's facility in Dover, just miles from the owner's base in Harrison.
- ▪The drones were stolen from CAC International in Harrison, NJ, using a counterfeit bill of lading and fake email confirmation.
- ▪Each Ceres Air C31 drone can spray up to 40 gallons of liquid chemicals in seven minutes and costs about $58,000.
- ▪Workers at Prudent Corporation's Dover warehouse discovered the drones and reported them after news of the theft circulated.
- ▪Former FBI agent Steve Lazarus warned the drones could be misused to disperse harmful chemicals, posing a public safety risk.
- ▪The FBI is not part of the active investigation, which is being led by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
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US News 15 stolen chemical-spraying drones recovered in NJ warehouse after employee sounds alarm By Caitlin McCormack Published April 28, 2026, 4:59 p.m. ET Fifteen giant agricultural drones stolen from a shipping and logistics company in New Jersey in late March were found inside a warehouse in the state. A phony delivery driver made off with the fleet of Ceres Air C31 drones on March 24 — sparking immediate concerns of a doomsday threat if the chemical-spraying tech fell into the wrong hands. The New Jersey State Police confirmed that all 15 drones were found at Prudent Corporation, a trucking company based in Dover. Fifteen stolen agricultural drones were recovered inside a warehouse in New Jersey.
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