A Chinese spy was arrested for using a drone to snap photos of military installations, according to the U.S. Attorney General’s Office.
Chinese spy arrested
According to an affidavit, personnel at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County got wind of a drone overhead on November 30, thanks to detection technology.
Reports suggest the drone zipped around the area for an hour, hovering about a mile high, before being traced back to Ocean Park—a public space near the base.
When security teams reached Ocean Park, they encountered Yinpiao Zhou, 39, from Brentwood, California, who allegedly had the drone tucked inside his jacket.
Officials confirmed it matched the one seen flying over the base. Zhou’s actions sparked concerns about security in sensitive regions, leaving questions lingering about possible intent.
Following a federal warrant, authorities searched the drone and uncovered aerial images of the base.
Allegedly, Zhou had also searched online for “Vandenberg Space Force Base Drone Rules” and discussed with another individual methods to hack the drone so it could exceed its flight limitations.
Zhou, a Chinese citizen holding permanent U.S. residency, faces charges including violating national defense airspace and failing to register the drone as an aircraft.
According to U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada, “This defendant allegedly flew a drone over a military base and took photos of the base’s layout, which is against the law. The security of our nation is of paramount importance and my office will continue to promote the safety of our nation’s military personnel and facilities.”
Chinese spy arrested trying to board flight
Zhou was intercepted at San Francisco Airport on Monday while attempting to board a flight to China. If convicted, he could serve up to four years in federal prison.
Meanwhile, on the East Coast, Naval Weapons Station Earle, located in Colts Neck, New Jersey, disclosed multiple occurrences of unidentified drones breaching their airspace.
“While no direct threats to the installation have been identified, we can confirm multiple instances of unidentified drones entering the airspace above Naval Weapons Station Earle,” stated Bill Addison, the public affairs officer for the station.
Addison noted that their robust security measures and advanced detection systems were in place to tackle any risks.
Although the naval station remained tight-lipped about when these sightings occurred, they highlighted ongoing collaboration with state and federal agencies to guarantee safety.
Politician blasts government over New Jersey drones
Republican Representative Jeff Van Drew from New Jersey went a step further, attributing the appearances to foreign involvement.
During a discussion on Fox News, Van Drew cited “very qualified sources” and claimed the drones were deployed from an Iranian “mothership” stationed off the U.S. East Coast.
“From very high sources, very qualified sources, very responsible sources, I’m going to tell you the real deal: Iran launched a mothership, probably about a month ago, that contains these drones,” Van Drew declared.
However, the Pentagon fired back, stating that they have “no evidence that these activities are coming from a foreign entity or the work of an adversary.”
Van Drew slammed the government’s response, labeling it “stupid” and “weak.”
Adding to the buzz, former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan shared his own startling account of drone activity.
Hogan posted online that he saw what seemed like dozens of massive drones flying over his home in Davidsonville, Maryland, on Thursday evening.
He recorded the strange sight and uploaded a video, saying the activity went on for about 45 minutes.
“Last night, beginning at around 9:45 pm, I personally witnessed (and videoed) what appeared to be dozens of large drones in the sky above my residence in Davidsonville, Maryland (25 miles from our nation’s capital),” Hogan wrote on X.
Last night, beginning at around 9:45 pm, I personally witnessed (and videoed) what appeared to be dozens of large drones in the sky above my residence in Davidsonville, Maryland (25 miles from our nation’s capital). I observed the activity for approximately 45 minutes.
Like… pic.twitter.com/Ipx8ctLmhs
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) December 13, 2024
Hogan noted his frustration with the lack of transparency from federal agencies, saying, “Like many who have observed these drones, I do not know if this increasing activity over our skies is a threat to public safety or national security.”
“But the public is growing increasingly concerned and frustrated with the complete lack of transparency and the dismissive attitude of the federal government,” he continued.
“The government has the ability to track these from their point of origin but has mounted a negligent response. People are rightfully clamoring for answers, but aren’t getting any,” the former governor concluded.
