SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. — The Ocean County Sheriff’s Department has a command center stationed along the beachfront in Seaside Heights after reporting an unusual wave of drones launching from the ocean and flying inland at the Jersey Shore.
In 2012, this area was also ground zero for Superstorm Sandy.
Currently, the only active coastal defense to the alleged incursion is a mobile command center trailer and a few Ocean County Sheriff’s officers in a vacant beachfront parking lot Seaside Heights.
Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy disclosed this week that 50 drones had been spotted over the ocean, heading inland, including a dozen reportedly shadowing a U.S. Coast Guard ship in the area.
The drone activity concentrated near the Seaside Heights and Ortley Beach border has prompted local law enforcement to seek answers. However, federal regulations prevent the sheriff’s office from deploying its anti-drone systems to counter or track the devices.
While the Biden administration and Governor Phil Murphy have assured the public that the drones pose no immediate threat, state and federal authorities acknowledge they cannot identify or determine who is operating them.
The FBI had previously shot down a drone mothership allegation launched by New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew.
Federal officials have refuted some of the local claims, but the sightings continue to draw scrutiny. Residents are urged to report unusual drone activity, though no immediate action is being taken by state or federal agencies.
Both Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy and Monmouth County Sheriff Shawn Golden have both used the current drone hysteria to call for police to have greater enforcement powers against privately owned drones.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy dismissed Van Drew’s claim of an “Iranian Drone Mothership” operating off the coast of New Jersey, despite Van Drew’s claims that he was provided the information by U.S. intelligence officials.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said he also has no idea who is operating the drones, but criticized Van Drew’s assessment.
“I don’t know what he’s watching, maybe he should watch the news,” Murphy said
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh also dismissed Van Drew’s claim, saying, “There’s not any truth to that.”
Van Drew said of the government’s response, “They are lying to you.”