In a shocking incident uncovered in China, criminal gangs deployed drones to deliberately infect pig farms with African swine fever. Their scheme? Buy contaminated meat at rock-bottom prices and resell it as healthy for massive profits.
In June 2019, reports highlighted one of the largest animal epidemics in history. Since summer 2018, millions of pigs were culled in China and Vietnam due to African swine fever—a highly contagious disease with no cure. Experts estimated over 200 million pigs at risk of slaughter in China alone.
Amid this crisis, opportunistic gangs exploited skyrocketing pork prices. As detailed in a South China Morning Post article on December 20, 2019, these criminals used drones to drop objects laced with the virus onto farms, intentionally contaminating livestock.
The gangs aimed to scoop up infected animals cheaply, then resell the meat at premium prices by falsifying its health status. They also spread infection rumors to panic farmers into quick sales. In response, some operators installed drone jammers to protect their properties.
This defensive measure proved effective but had unintended consequences: it disrupted local air traffic in Zhaozhou province, northeast China. Aviation staff reported signal losses, leading to the jammer's discovery. Authorities showed leniency to the farmer, recognizing his desperate situation. Yet, no comprehensive plan has emerged to curb these drone attacks, exacerbating China's swine fever challenges.
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