Cartels Flew Over 60,000 Drones Near US Border in 6 Months, ICE Reports

Cartel Drone Activity at the Border

• 📈 Cartels deployed over 60,000 drones near the US southern border between July and December 2024, averaging 328 flights daily within 500 meters of the US border.
• ⚠️ These drones are used to monitor Border Patrol movements, transport contraband and narcotics undetected, and are increasingly being armed with explosives.
• 🎯 The aerial surveillance provides cartels with an upper hand in surveillance, aiding in the movement of migrants and drugs into the United States.

Countermeasures and International Cooperation

• 🛰️ US Customs and Border Protection is deploying surveillance blimps equipped with radar and high-altitude cameras to counter the drone threat.
• ✈️ The agency also plans to deploy its own drones in the coming months to combat cartel aerial activity.
• 🤝 The US is collaborating with the Mexican government, armed forces, and law enforcement, providing training on drone exploitation and counter-UAS principles.

Dangers and Fatalities

• 💥 Cartel drones are being armed with explosives, posing a deadly threat not only to rivals but also to law enforcement.
• 🇲🇽 In Mexico, two soldiers were recently confirmed killed by explosives dropped from a drone in the state of Michoacán.
• 💊 Concerns are high regarding the potential for fentanyl and other dangerous drugs to be transported into the US undetected via these drones.