drones at 18,000 feet silently view the landscape below. determine and lock on to potential suspects crossing the vast arizona desert. commanded by a control team safely tucked inside of this virtual cockpit, those controllers send the guards right to where they are needed. >> so this is happening in realtime. >> that's the pilot of the drone. this is the person who's the second pilot. he's watching the camera and they have detected a group that is now crossing the border illegally or potentially suspects and another group of gentlemen, which we can't show you has the radar screen and they are trying to vector in agents to see are these guys illegal? are they carrying dope? do they need to be arrested? that is happening right now. >> reporter: seems perfect until you do the math. that arrest, according to the department of homeland security's inspector general cost you the taxpayer $28,000. >> that doesn't seem like an efficient way to protect the