California Drone Dealer Drops 70 Grams of Meth

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A brazen aerial meth drop went down over North Kern State Prison in Delano, California, on June 9, 2024. Jorge Narvaez, 28, piloted an Autel drone over the facility, dropping two balloons containing 21.4 grams of meth into the prison yard.

But Narvaez didn’t stop there. He made another attempt at smuggling, only this time, his drone crashed into a nearby field, spilling 49.6 grams of meth onto the ground. Investigators recovered both the drone and the meth.

Forensic analysis of the drone revealed video footage of the operator, later identified as Narvaez. He was taken into custody and charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Narvaez pleaded guilty on October 20, 2025, and was sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison.