Increased Drone Activity by Mexican Cartels
Mexican drug cartels are escalating their drone operations along the U.S.-Mexico border. Federal agencies are reporting a significant surge in unmanned flights, with tens of thousands of drones being used to monitor Border Patrol agents, coordinate smuggling efforts, and survey airspace in the U.S. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that they identified over 42,000 drone flights near the border in fiscal year 2025, signaling an evolving threat as cartels enhance their aerial surveillance tactics.
According to CBP officials, “The counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) environment is rapidly evolving, as are cartel tactics.” They pointed out that in fiscal year 2025 alone, the number of detected drone flights underscores the seriousness of the situation, even if not all the flights were meant for malicious purposes.
Reports indicate that during a six-month period from July to December 2024, there were around 60,000 drone flights by cartels, averaging more than 300 per day, as stated by a senior DHS counter-drone official. These figures take into account detection and operations across multiple federal agencies, showcasing the extent of cartel air activities.
Authorities reveal that cartels are using drones to track Border Patrol activities in real-time, identify enforcement weaknesses, and manage migrant groups and drug smuggling operations. Some factions have already utilized explosive-laden drones against law enforcement in Mexico, raising alarms about the possibility of such tactics being used against U.S. authorities in the future.
In a recent incident, members of the Gulf Cartel were apprehended in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, close to the Texas border. Authorities found a significant arsenal, including 151 explosive drones and advanced anti-drone devices.
Cartels have been weaponizing drones for some time. As reported previously, drone attacks using improvised explosive devices have already injured police officers in Michoacán state when cartel gunmen deployed commercial drones.
The rise in drone flights has begun affecting civilian life in the U.S. Notably, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily shut down airspace over El Paso last week due to suspected cartel drone incursions. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy indicated that the FAA responded promptly to the situation, which illustrated the complexity of differentiating cartel-operated drones from other airborne objects.
According to reports, the La Linea faction principally dominates drone operations in the southern El Paso area. This group has managed to maintain control of the region and continues to establish trafficking routes towards Texas and New Mexico through a network of cells. Recent discussions suggest the possibility of designating La Linea as a foreign terrorist organization, similar to six other Mexican cartels that were recognized as such during the Trump administration.
Law enforcement in the border region notes that cartel-operated drones tend to fly at night, often just high enough to evade detection while remaining visible to personnel on the ground. Many of the drones conducted repetitive flights, allowing smugglers to gather crucial information about patrol patterns and blind spots.
Despite the increasing threat, federal agencies face significant challenges in effectively countering cartel drones due to existing legal and operational limitations. Established FAA regulations restrict the deployment of counter-UAS systems, and the overlapping responsibilities among various departments complicate rapid responses. This results in a patchwork of defenses against a backdrop of escalating drone activity.
With DHS estimating 60,000 cartel drone flights within just six months and CBP revealing 42,000 confirmed detections near the border for 2025, officials are sounding alarms about entering a new phase of border security. In this evolving landscape, cartel surveillance capabilities are nearing those of small state militaries.
As drone activity intensifies and federal agencies struggle with outdated regulations and fragmented response options, criminal organizations are gaining unprecedented aerial surveillance power along the southern border. Unless quick legislative action occurs to address counter-drone laws, consolidate authorities, and enhance necessary technologies, the capabilities and consequences of cartel drone fleets will likely grow, posing substantial risks to U.S. border communities.
