A drone carrying more than six pounds of illegal drugs crashed near the U.S.-Mexican border.

Tijuana Municipal police said the unmanned aircraft landed in a supermarket parking lot in the U.S. border city of San Ysidro. The aircraft crashed due to overloading, according to Tijuana's Public Safety Secretariat.

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The drone was ferrying six packets of crystal metamphetamine wrapped in transparent plastic and weighed approximately three kilos.

"It's probable that the drone couldn't hold the weight of the cargo, and that's why it fell." police said in a statement.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Matt Barden said, drug cartels have become bolder in their efforts to transport illegal drugs.

"In San Diego, the street value, at last account, for a 6-pound load would be about $48,000," Barden said. "Once you get it across the border, that stuff's like gold," he added.

The police responded to a call from anonymous citizens after the drone crashed Tuesday night. 

The aircraft was a Spreading Wings S900 aerial photography drone, powered by 6 propellers and a lithium battery. It may be equipped with GPS co-ordinates, that will allow it to travel to a certain location autonomously and unmanned.

The drone has a price tag of about $1,400, based on online shopping sites. It was manufactured by DJI, a company based in Shenzhen, China. 

No one has yet been arrested, but the drone is now with authorities for investigation.  Police said drones have become increasingly popular as a means to ferry illegal drugs across the border with the U.S.

Some engineers are being hired by drug cartels to manufacture drones that could carry more weight than those commercially available. Smugglers have also become more creative in their illegal operations.

Last year, authorities uncovered two drug-smuggling tunnels under the U.S.-Mexico border. A total of 80 smuggling tunnels have been detected by authorities since 2006, seizing about 100 tons of narcotics.

Other innovative means include the use of catapults and ultralight aircrafts.

TagsU.S.-Mexico border, Drugs, drone, Tijuana, Drug Smuggling, San Ysidro, unmanned aircraft