Arizona Enacts Controversial Law Allowing Law Enforcement to Target Drug-Carrying Drones Near Border
Arizona has implemented a new law granting state law enforcement officers the authority to intercept and disable drones suspected of transporting illegal drugs within a 15-mile radius of the U.S.-Mexico border. House Bill 2733, signed into law on April 18 after garnering bipartisan support in the state legislature, empowers officers to target drones believed to be engaged in illicit activities.
The legislation aims to address the escalating use of drones by cartels for surveillance and drug trafficking operations. State Representative David Marshall, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized the growing threat posed by these drones, stating that cartels are increasingly using them to monitor the locations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and to transport illegal substances into Arizona from Mexico.
Under the new law, law enforcement officers are equipped with tools such as electronic jamming devices and shotguns loaded with birdshot to bring down suspected drug-carrying drones. The law also shields officers from civil liability for any damages resulting from the interception of these drones.
The bill specifies that a public entity or public employee will not be held liable for property damage caused by a peace officer who intercepts, captures, disables, shoots, destroys, or otherwise renders a drone inoperative within the designated 15-mile zone, provided the officer had reasonable suspicion that the drone was being used to violate specific sections of Arizona law related to drug offenses and other illegal activities.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes hailed the new law as a necessary step in combating international drug trafficking and protecting Arizonians. She emphasized that providing law enforcement with the necessary tools is a bipartisan effort crucial for safeguarding the state’s residents.
The enactment of HB 2733 comes amid growing concerns about the scale of drug trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to CBP data, approximately 113,000 pounds of illegal drugs were seized along the border between October 2024 and April 2025, with methamphetamine representing the largest share of the seizures. Prior to the passage of this bill, Arizona law enforcement lacked the explicit legal authority to intercept drones suspected of involvement in illegal activities, including the transportation of dangerous drugs like fentanyl across the southern border.
The law’s passage follows reports of Mexican cartels increasingly using drones in sophisticated and dangerous ways, including reports of kamikaze drones laden with explosives targeting border patrol agents.
While Arizona officials view the new law as a vital tool in combating drug trafficking, it has sparked significant controversy due to its potential conflict with federal aviation regulations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a statement emphasizing that federal law generally prohibits the damage, destruction, or disabling of an aircraft, including drones. The FAA also warned that shooting at any aircraft, including unmanned aircraft, poses a significant safety hazard, potentially causing damage to persons or property on the ground or leading to collisions with other objects in the air.
The FAA’s statement raises serious questions about the legality and safety of Arizona’s new law. The potential for conflict between state and federal regulations could lead to legal challenges and uncertainty for law enforcement officers attempting to enforce the law. There are also concerns about the accuracy of identifying drug-carrying drones and the potential for accidentally targeting legitimate drone operators.
Critics of the law also point to the potential for unintended consequences, such as the escalation of violence along the border and the risk of harming innocent civilians. The use of shotguns to bring down drones raises concerns about stray pellets causing injury or damage.
Despite these concerns, proponents of the law argue that it is a necessary measure to address the urgent threat posed by drug trafficking and the devastating impact of opioids on Arizona communities. Representative Marshall highlighted the fact that Arizona experienced 1,479 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2024 alone, emphasizing the urgent need to take action to combat the flow of deadly drugs into the state.
He believes that HB 2733 provides law enforcement with the tools they need to intercept these drugs before they can cause irreparable harm to communities.
The implementation of Arizona’s new law will be closely watched by other border states facing similar challenges. The legal and practical implications of the law, as well as its impact on drug trafficking and border security, remain to be seen. The potential conflict with federal aviation regulations is likely to be a major point of contention, and legal challenges to the law are possible. The effectiveness of the law will depend on how law enforcement officers implement it and whether it can successfully deter the use of drones for drug trafficking without creating unacceptable safety risks or infringing on federal authority.
The law’s impact on the relationship between state and federal law enforcement agencies will also be an important factor. Close coordination and communication will be necessary to avoid misunderstandings and ensure that law enforcement efforts are aligned.
