Jabari Brown, the young pilot who became famous online after winning a private jet in a MrBeast challenge video, has now been arrested in Paraguay in a major drug trafficking investigation. Paraguayan authorities said Brown was detained in Asunción after investigators allegedly found around 261.6 kilograms, or nearly 577 pounds, of cannabis connected to a private aircraft that had arrived from Miami. The case quickly grabbed attention online because Brown had built a large following after appearing in one of MrBeast’s viral aviation videos.According to Paraguay’s National Anti-Drug Secretariat, also known as SENAD, Brown became the fourth person arrested in the investigation. Officials said the aircraft landed at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, where agents reportedly discovered the cannabis hidden inside several suitcases being unloaded from the plane. The story has become even more shocking for many fans because Brown was once seen as a rising young pilot after winning MrBeast’s 2025 video “100 Pilots Fight For A Private Jet,” where he earned a Hawker 400XP aircraft reportedly worth around $2.4 million.
Jabari Brown’s MrBeast success story takes unexpected turn after Paraguay investigation
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 quickly after the video, and many viewers saw him as one of the breakout personalities from the challenge.Now, however, his name is being linked to one of Paraguay’s biggest recent international trafficking investigations. SENAD officials described the seized cannabis as a “premium” variety with high THC levels. Authorities also claimed 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 said three other US nationals Marisol Rivas, Anthony Vásquez, and David Thomas Wise were also arrested after 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. The case remains under investigation in Paraguay.
