With an international border so close by, Western New York sees its share of illegal drugs moving across the border.

But this week saw something a little different, with more than 100 pounds of marijuana smuggled onto Grand Island by helicopter.

After seeing that helicopter, U.S. Border Patrol agents found four large duffle bags in Beaver Island State Park.

Inside the bags were 25 sealed plastic packages of marijuana, with an estimated value of around $151,000.

Dr. Steven MacMartin, a former Homeland Security Agent, said this is a unique case, although not all aircraft show up at all heights on radar.

He said it could have been an attempt to not be caught by numerous cameras along the island.

”To me, they went up to a very high level to escape being caught by the camera, flew across to deliver the drugs, then drop down to drop the drugs and then go back up,” he said. “We will work with officials, to find registered helicopters, then research which ones were capable of carrying the weight and flying the distance. It shouldn't take long to narrow down the suspects that did this.”   

Less than a month ago, border patrol agents stopped three people from illegally entering the United States as they tried to cross the Niagara River on a jet ski.

MacMartin said with security more focused on the southern border, resources have been temporarily moved there, leaving the northern border a little more unprotected.