Ciudad Juárez woman charged after drone smuggling attempt

A woman identified as April “N” has been formally charged after authorities intercepted a drone used to transport controlled substances across the border in Ciudad Juárez. The incident occurred on August 15 when U.S. Border Patrol detected the unmanned aerial vehicle and inhibited its flight, causing it to crash in Mexican territory.

Upon inspecting the site, the National Guard recovered the drone along with two bags containing white and pink tablets. April “N” was found at the scene and claimed ownership of the device. A subsequent search revealed additional bags containing controlled tramadol tablets, totaling 472 units. Authorities also seized a battery, a support harness, a mobile phone, and an electric scooter.

A federal judge has ordered pretrial detention for the suspect and set a two-month period for the completion of the investigation.