State and federal officials have dismissed claims that drones in New Jersey were searching for radioactive material. The dismissal comes after an influx of public speculation and conspiracy theories.

The rumors began after an alert from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission reported on December 5 that a radioactive device used for cancer scans disappeared in transit from a New Jersey cancer center on. Speculation grew when a local official suggested a potential connection between recent drone sightings and the search for the material.

The device, an Eckert & Ziegler HEGL-0132, contained trace amounts of Germanium-68, a radioactive isotope used in medical imaging. It had been shipped from the Nazha Cancer Center in Newfield but arrived at its destination damaged and empty. According to the cancer center, the material was depleted, posed minimal risk, and was safely transported. FedEx, which handled the shipment, temporarily misplaced it but later delivered it to the manufacturer.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection confirmed that the material has been located, repackaged, and disposed of safely. Officials emphasized that the material’s radiation levels were extremely low and that drones were not used to recover it.

Federal agencies also denied any connection between the drones and radioactive detection efforts. The Department of Energy stated its Nuclear Emergency Support Team does not employ drones for such missions and had no aerial operations in the region.

Despite these explanations, reports of unidentified drones flying in grid-like patterns over New Jersey and neighboring states continue to raise public concern. Federal officials have suggested the sightings likely involve commercial drones, hobbyist activities, or law enforcement operations.

As speculation persists, officials are facing increased pressure to address the mysterious drone sightings and their potential implications for national security.