Fifteen Ceres Air C31 agricultural spraying drones vanished from a warehouse in Harrison, New Jersey, on March 24 in what investigators described as one of the most sophisticated thefts in recent memory. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has taken over the case amid heightened concerns that the drones could be repurposed to disperse chemical or biological agents.

A bogus delivery driver tricked shipping company CAC International by presenting a phony bill of lading backed by a fake confirmation email, allowing the removal of the entire fleet. The warehouse is located at 720 S 1st St in Harrison. Each drone, roughly the size of an all-terrain vehicle and weighing around 500 pounds, can carry up to 40 gallons of liquid and spray chemicals over 15 acres in just seven minutes.

The theft's total value exceeds $870,000, with each unit priced at approximately $58,000. A source briefed on the investigation told The High Side that the operation's complexity has alarmed federal agents. "This was one of the most highly sophisticated thefts [the FBI has] seen in a long time, which is the main thing that has them so spooked," the source said.

Retired FBI agent Steve Lazarus highlighted the risks in comments to the outlet. "The bureau is freaked out for a good reason. These aren’t hobby drones with cameras. They’re industrial sprayers designed to carry and disperse significant amounts of liquid quickly and with precision," Lazarus said. He warned of a potential "nightmare scenario," noting that even common chemicals could pose dangers if misused, especially with online recipes for weapons accessible via the dark web.

The Ceres Air C31 is an American-made alternative to dominant Chinese models like the DJI Agras T50, amid a federal ban on foreign drones that took effect last December. U.S. military assessments have long recognized the dual-use potential of such equipment. A 2020 Army manual warned that agricultural drones are readily available and could serve as delivery systems for chemical or biological attacks.

The FBI declined to comment on the active investigation. Harrison Police, Ceres Air, and CAC International did not respond to requests for information. No suspects have been publicly identified, and the case remains unsolved.