Florida Man Arrested After Drone Loaded with Meth and Fentanyl Crashes Into Home

LUTZ, Florida - A 49-year-old Florida man was arrested in Hillsborough County after his drone, allegedly carrying bags of methamphetamine and fentanyl, malfunctioned and crashed into a residential home. Credit: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

LUTZ, Florida – A 49-year-old Florida man was arrested in Hillsborough County after his drone, allegedly carrying bags of methamphetamine and fentanyl, malfunctioned and crashed into a residential home, authorities said Wednesday.

The incident unfolded on August 19 in the 18500 block of Hannah Michaela Lane in Lutz, where homeowners reported a stranger at their door following the drone crash.

Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) responded to the call and recovered the drone along with multiple bags of narcotics from the scene. Tests confirmed the substances included methamphetamine and fentanyl, potent drugs often linked to overdose risks.

The suspect, identified as Jason Brooks of Tampa, was located nearby in his vehicle, which deputies discovered was unregistered and bore an improper tag. Brooks was taken into custody without incident and faces a slew of charges, including:

• Operating an unregistered vehicle
• Attaching a tag not assigned
• Driving while license canceled, suspended, or revoked
• Possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell or deliver (two counts)
• Possession of a controlled substance
• Out-of-county warrant for probation violation related to failure to appear

Body camera footage released by the HCSO shows deputies confronting Brooks and securing the evidence, emphasizing the unusual method of drug transport.

The use of drones for smuggling narcotics has been on the rise, with similar incidents reported in prisons and border areas.