A drug-smuggling drone has crashed near the US/Mexican border. It appears these smugglers were over-ambitious, but some of their counterparts may be more successful.

The drone crashed into a Tijuana supermarket parking lot where it was reported to police. An NBC freelance reporter says the drone, which flew thanks to six propellors powered by a lithium battery, was carrying 6.6 pounds of crystal methamphetamine.

Tijuana police reported that the drugs were taped to the drone in six packets. The drone appeared to be a home-made prototype model which used a GPS tracker to navigate to its intended destination rather than requiring human operation.

The drone appears to have crashed because it couldn’t handle the weight, suggesting the smugglers may have been tripped up by their own greed. Many models, such as commercially available camera-bearing drones, or Amazon’s proposed delivery drone, have recommended maximum loads of around five pounds.

While this is the first time Tijuana police have found evidence of a smuggling drone at that particular border post, the Drug Enforcement Agency estimates those drug drones that do work are making a combined 150 trips a year across the border. They also report drug gangs hiring engineers to work on drones that can cope with higher loads than retail models.

(Image credit: Tijuana Police)