Experts Warn Cartels Are Using Drones to Identify Border Personnel and Map Smuggling Routes

The U.S. Army identified 378 cartel drone attacks along the Mexican border over 30 days, and experts warned that cartels will continue to innovate.

The Pentagon unveiled a new technology to intercept cartel drones at the US border

MEXICO CITY: Mexican cartels are said to be using commercial and modified drones to watch US security personnel, map out patrols and support smuggling corridors along the southern border, as authorities step up efforts to disable the aircraft.

The US military has detected 378 drone attacks along the border in the past 30 days. Gen. Brian Filer of Joint Task Force-Southern Border told reporters recently. He said the trend is on the rise, and the planes are typically commercial drones with cameras used for surveillance and control related to human trafficking and smuggling.

The US military launched the first autonomous combatant command to deploy unmanned systems across Latin America.

The new law allows law enforcement in Arizona to shoot down drones suspected of being involved in criminal activity along the US-Mexico border. (iStock)

The spokesperson added that "Pursuant to congressional authority (6 USC 124n), the Department of Homeland Security has authorized anti-UAS authorities for CBP. US Border Patrol C-UAS operations, with the approval of the Secretary of DHS, cover the entire southwest border and areas that extend 100 miles inland to identify, identify and track USB-UAS, monitor all UAS-UAS in the West. Border sectors to identify, track and mitigate these threats."

The doctor explained how the cartels use drones. “Most cartels and cartel partners still rely on off-the-shelf trade. "Cartels continue to innovate their drone designs, often focusing on increasing payload size, improving resistance to countermeasures and enhancing operational capabilities," he added.

He identified surveillance and logistics as the dominant border roles, with most weapons use documented inside Mexico.

"Cartels and affiliated cartels use drones for a wide range of tactics and operations ... including kinetic attacks on rival factions, civilians in Mexico, and local security forces." NCITE research has identified the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG, as "the main driver of drone innovation and adoption in the Mexican cartel ecosystem," Dr. said, although drone use has expanded among cartels and across Mexican states.

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The 2025 Occupy in Reynosa, Tamaulipas shows how border regions can support these programs. Mexico's security cabinet said troops and state police detained a man and seized 18 drones, 151 explosive devices, two improvised explosive devices, a drone detector and three anti-drone devices. It is not specified in the official announcement of the cartel. The doctor said the safe house "is reported to be linked to the Los Metro group of the Gulf Cartel."

Armed drones have also reached one of the Mexican border towns. In October 2025, a Baja California prosecutor said a drone dropped improvised explosive devices at the anti-kidnapping prosecutor's office in Tijuana, damaging four vehicles but causing no injuries. Authorities described it as criminal retaliation but did not publicly identify a cartel.

Tijuana is one exception to the pattern of attacks occurring inside Mexico, the doctor said. He said the border areas remained a "vital facilitation center" and the risk of increased kinetic attacks there "remains significant."

Mexico says it is responding with bans, anti-drone equipment, military operations and new criminal penalties. During last month's Aguila Alta operation in the Tijuana-San Diego region, Mexican forces neutralized five drones, detained one person, seized a firearm, magazines and ammunition, the Mexican Defense Ministry said.

A plane was first detected in the United States and later neutralized in Mexico after information was shared with Customs and Border Protection. Officials said the operation deterred criminal activity and strengthened coordination, but did not release any before-and-after data to show whether drone traffic subsequently declined.

Mexico made certain drone-related behaviors a federal crime in 2024, including dropping explosives, adapting aircraft to carry weapons or drugs, and monitoring government officials.

DHS says CBP officers seized $67 million in illegal drugs at San Diego border ports.

Earlier this month, Mexico deployed 500 soldiers and members of the National Guard, two helicopters, drones and mobile, and fixed anti-drone systems in five municipalities of Tamaulipas. The Navy separately reported 159 personnel, 11 vehicles and two drones under Operation Sable.

What remains unknown is how many cartel drones the groups control individual flights and whether Mexico's countermeasures will pay off.

The doctor said increasing counter-drone resources was important, but warned that it was "almost certain that the cartels will continue to innovate and adapt."