Mexican Cartels Harness Drones for Drug Smuggling and Warfare

The recent temporary closure of airspace over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday raised concerns along the U.S.-Mexico border, highlighting the evolving tactics of Mexican cartels. These criminal organizations have increasingly incorporated drones into their operations for smuggling drugs, organizing migrant crossings, conducting surveillance, and battling rival factions. Initially, U.S. officials attributed the airspace closure to a potential incursion by cartel-operated drones, although subsequent clarifications cast doubt on this explanation.

According to Steven Willoughby, deputy director of the Department of Homeland Security’s counter-drone program, cartels utilize drones almost daily for transporting drugs across the border and monitoring the activities of U.S. Border Patrol agents. Data indicates that within the last six months of 2024, over 27,000 drones were detected within 500 meters (1,640 feet) of the U.S. southern border, primarily during nighttime operations.

Historical Context of Aerial Drug Trafficking

The use of aircraft for drug trafficking is not a recent phenomenon. The history of Ciudad Juarez, located just across from El Paso, is notable for its association with drug smuggling. In the 1990s, the infamous drug trafficker Amado Carrillo Fuentes, known as “The Lord of the Skies,” specialized in transporting large quantities of narcotics via small aircraft. Following his death in 1997, his family continued the operations, with estimates suggesting that by 2012, approximately 70% of the cocaine entering the U.S. originated from Juarez.

The Mexican government issued an international alert in 2010 regarding the use of unmanned aerial vehicles by drug traffickers, marking the beginning of a significant shift in trafficking methods. From 2012 to 2014, U.S. authorities detected approximately 150 unmanned aircraft crossing the border. By 2025, the International Narcotics Control Board reported an alarming increase, with 10,000 incursions recorded in the Rio Grande Valley area alone.

Drones: Evolving Tools for Smuggling and Warfare

Drones have not only facilitated drug smuggling but have also evolved into weapons of war. In 2021, the Mexican government began documenting incidents where drones equipped with explosives were used by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) to target security forces in states such as Michoacan, Guanajuato, and Jalisco. While these drones were noted to carry limited explosive payloads, their deployment represented a new tactic in cartel warfare.

The proliferation of drone technology has permeated nearly all criminal organizations in Mexico. Drones are employed for both offensive operations and surveillance, transmitting real-time images back to cartel leaders. In states like Michoacan, both consumer-grade drones and larger agricultural drones—approximately one meter (3.3 feet) in diameter—are modified for these purposes, replacing their original sprayers with explosive adapters.

As of 2025, reports indicated that cartels increasingly utilized homemade drones capable of carrying up to 100 kilograms (220.46 pounds) of cargo, optimizing drug transport with the aid of advanced satellite technologies for precise landing site programming.

The Mexican government has also responded to the drone threat by deploying its own drones for surveillance and counter-cartel operations. This strategy was notably used during the monitoring of migrant caravans in 2018 and 2019. Furthermore, specialized anti-drone equipment is now operational along borders separating regions such as Sinaloa, Jalisco, and Michoacan. In July 2025, the state of Chiapas announced the acquisition of a fleet of armed drones aimed specifically at combating the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels.

The integration of drone technology into cartel operations signifies a disturbing trend in drug trafficking and organized crime, presenting unique challenges for law enforcement and governance in Mexico and the broader region. As these tactics evolve, the international community will need to adapt its strategies to effectively counter the sophisticated methods employed by these criminal groups.