FBI admits using unarmed drones for operational purposes in US

Senator Rand Paul has disclosed an unclassified letter by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) which has clarified the circumstances when agents have flown drones over United States for 10 times in the past seven years.

Earlier, Paul had asked the FBI Director Robert Mueller to explain the need of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in U.S.

Meanwhile, FBI said in its letter that UAVs have been used for surveillance to support missions related to kidnappings, search and rescue operations, drug interdictions and fugitive investigations.

According to the Washington Times, FBI has conducted surveillance over U.S. airspace using UAVs in eight criminal cases and two national security cases since 2006.

FBI also said that none of the UAVs used by them on U.S. soil are armed with either lethal or non-lethal weapons, the report added.

FBI has assured that that the Bureau would acquire a warrant before using a drone to acquire information when an individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy.