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Published 11:41 03 Jun 2026 GMT
Jabari Brown, the 20-year-old pilot who won a $2 million private jet in a MrBeast challenge, has been released after being detained during a major drug trafficking investigation in Paraguay.
Brown, who rose to online fame after beating 99 other contestants in one of MrBeast’s high-profile competitions, was among four Americans arrested after authorities seized more than 261 kilograms of marijuana allegedly being transported aboard a private aircraft.
Paraguay's National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) confirmed the seizure, with officials estimating the high-THC marijuana had a street value of around $3.6 million on Brazil's illicit market. However, authorities later determined that Brown had no involvement in the alleged operation and he was subsequently released.
The Jamaican-born pilot, known online as Captain Treezy, was detained alongside three other Americans following the discovery of 261.6 kilograms of marijuana on a private aircraft that had arrived from Miami at Paraguay's Silvio Pettirossi International Airport on Friday.
According to SENAD Minister Jalil Rachid, the Public Prosecutor's Office concluded Brown was not connected to the drugs found on board.
The aircraft involved was not the jet Brown won during the MrBeast competition.
The other individuals detained were identified as Marisol Rivas, 39, originally from New York; Troy Anthony Vásquez, 42, from Florida; and David Thomas Wise, 58, of California.
Anti-drug prosecutor Cubilla charged the three with international drug trafficking and unauthorized possession of narcotic substances.
Brown was serving as co-pilot on the flight. The pilot, reportedly Estonian national Keith Siilats, had already left Paraguay on a commercial flight before the drugs were discovered. A warrant has reportedly been issued for his arrest.
In a translated statement, SENAD said: "A new blow was dealt to drug trafficking as part of the Hummingbird Program. Special Agents from SENAD (National Anti-Drug Secretariat) intercepted and seized a jet from the United States carrying 261.6 kilograms of premium marijuana, and arrested three US citizens linked to the operation."
The agency added: "The seized shipment, characterized by its high THC concentration, would have an approximate value of $3.6 million on the Brazilian illicit market, representing a significant financial blow to the criminal organizations involved."
Brown first attracted widespread attention after winning a MrBeast challenge filmed in Saudi Arabia last year.
The competition saw 100 pilots face a series of aviation-themed tasks, including hauling an aircraft, surviving powerful jet blasts and skydiving challenges.
As the youngest competitor at just 20 years old, Brown ultimately claimed victory by holding onto a jet positioned on a freeway in Riyadh for more than 19 hours during the final challenge.
Before his appearance in the competition, Brown told the Jamaica Observer that he was training to become a pilot.
“I fly private jets, I cannot fly [for] the airlines because I’m too young.
“I have all the qualifications, I have every requirement to be an airline pilot, but I’m not 21. I have to be 21 per the United States Law to be an airline pilot.”
Brown has previously revealed that he had little idea what he was signing up for when he accepted the invitation to participate in the challenge.
“One day, I just got a phone call… they asked if I was available from 8 October through the 18th, and I didn’t check my schedule, I just said yes… I had zero idea what it was about, I just knew it was with MrBeast, and there was gonna be international travel involved,” Brown said.
Reflecting on his victory, he added: “It’s an indescribable moment because everything was so fast, but so slow, I’m like, so this means I’m a millionaire now? Just thinking of everything. I’m like, there’s no way, I can’t believe it.
“It was just hard to fathom anything, you know and then also thinking like you just won a MrBeast challenge, you are gonna be the front and centre of attention.”
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