Jabari Brown, the young pilot who gained online fame after winning a private jet in a MrBeast challenge video, has been arrested in Paraguay as part of a major drug trafficking investigation. Paraguayan authorities confirmed that Brown was detained in Asunción after investigators allegedly discovered approximately 261.6 kilograms, or nearly 577 pounds, of cannabis linked to a private aircraft that had arrived from Miami. The case quickly attracted widespread online attention due to Brown's large following, which grew after he appeared in one of MrBeast's viral aviation videos.
Details of the Arrest
According to Paraguay's National Anti-Drug Secretariat, known as SENAD, Brown is the fourth person arrested in this investigation. Officials stated that the aircraft landed at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, where agents reportedly found the cannabis concealed inside several suitcases being unloaded from the plane. The story has shocked many fans, as Brown was previously seen as a rising young pilot after winning MrBeast's 2025 video titled "100 Pilots Fight For A Private Jet," where he earned a Hawker 400XP aircraft valued at approximately $2.4 million.
Brown's Rise to Fame
For many fans, Brown's arrest came as a complete surprise. After winning the MrBeast competition, the then-20-year-old pilot had spoken about using the aircraft to start a charter aviation business. His online popularity grew rapidly following the video, and many viewers considered him one of the breakout personalities from the challenge. Now, however, his name is being linked to one of Paraguay's most significant recent international trafficking investigations.
The Investigation and Seized Drugs
SENAD officials described the seized cannabis as a "premium" variety with high THC levels. Authorities also suggested that the shipment may have been intended for the Brazilian market, where the drugs could reportedly be sold for nearly $14,000 per kilogram. Paraguayan officials confirmed that three other US nationals—Marisol Rivas, Anthony Vásquez, and David Thomas Wise—were also arrested following the discovery. Investigators have not identified Brown as the owner of the aircraft involved in the case.
According to SENAD, the plane was allegedly owned and operated by Keith Siilats, an Estonian national reportedly connected to Bolt Mobility in the United States. Paraguayan newspaper Última Hora reported that Siilats is believed to have left the country before the arrests took place. So far, neither MrBeast nor Brown's representatives have publicly commented on the investigation, which remains under active investigation in Paraguay.
