Mexican cartels are increasingly using drones to take over the roles of human scouts who monitor U.S. border guard activities. These drones are replacing scouts, often minors.
Previously, tools like radio transceivers, cell phones, and binoculars were essential for low-level cartel surveillance. These tools, stationed in key areas, allowed cartels to keep an eye on military movements, law enforcement, and rival cartels. But now, inexpensive drones have become the favored method for observing and directing cartel operations, especially after many scouting locations were compromised by rivals. Currently, members of rival cartels are actively seeking out these observation posts, often situated in public areas like street corners, and using text messages to notify their associates. This has led to automatic accusations against unsuspecting youths who might be caught with a transceiver.
What used to be a role for young men, often perceived as harmless, is now fraught with danger. Rival cartels are on the lookout for these scouts, leading to threats and violence against them. Those caught might be subjected to extreme torture for any useful information they possess.
Reports have indicated that cartels started using drones as far back as 2008, initially for smuggling, and now increasingly for surveillance. Young scouts are becoming less common in high-activity cartel areas. This shift to drones, which come with lower risks, has expanded the cartels’ capabilities, with some drones even being armed to attack rivals and law enforcement.
A businessman from Guamchil, Sinaloa, often travels to Sinaloa—currently a hotspot for cartel violence. He hasn’t seen the traditional lookouts, known as “Halcone” or “Puntos,” as frequently as just a few months prior. He noted that these scouts were usually conspicuous in their duties, making them easy to spot. However, due to rival cartels targeting these lookout roles, their presence has noticeably diminished. He mentioned rumors suggesting that lookout recruits are being retrained to operate drones. Though they might share drone footage on social media to advertise their activities, he also indicated that such posts are often deleted quickly for safety reasons. He pointed out how cartel members have checkpoints where they search for evidence of loyalty to rival groups; minor infractions can lead to severe consequences.
Mexican authorities have been seizing drones of various sizes, from small consumer models to larger ones that can carry significant payloads. Efforts to counter drone use have not been effective so far, and it’s uncertain whether the U.S. has the technology needed to tackle this issue or if there’s any plan to assist Mexico in combating the threat.
This week, U.S. Northern Command confirmed that the USS Spruance, a guided destroyer, docked at the Port of Veracruz with a mission to enhance border security and combat drug trafficking. The USS Spruance is also patrolling the Pacific Coast of Mexico in international waters.
Many in Mexico view U.S. intervention as a potential solution to cartel violence. A resident from Sonora expressed eagerness for U.S. military support, stating that external intervention is the only way to improve the situation in Mexico, which he describes as too corrupt to improve on its own. A recent CNN report indicated that the CIA is considering the use of lethal force against Mexican drug cartels.
