Mexican cartels are using commercial and modified drones to surveil U.S. security personnel, map patrol routines, and support smuggling corridors along the southern border. Authorities are expanding efforts to disable the aircraft as drone activity increases. Brig. Gen. Brian Filler of Joint Task Force-Southern Border stated that the U.S. military detected 378 drone incursions along the border during the previous 30 days. He noted the trend is increasing, with the aircraft typically being commercial drones equipped with cameras used for surveillance tied to smuggling and human trafficking.
Austin Doctor, who directs strategic initiatives at the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center and teaches at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, explained that the primary application on the border is surveillance and reconnaissance. Cartels use this data to establish patterns of life for U.S. security personnel and support smuggling outcomes. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson confirmed the threat, stating that rapidly advancing Unmanned Aircraft System technology presents persistent risks, including counter-surveillance and illicit cargo movement. CBP detected over 42,000 near-border UAS flights in fiscal 2025 and over 37,000 in fiscal 2026. Under congressional authority, the Department of Homeland Security has approved Counter-UAS authorities for CBP, covering the entire Southwest border and areas extending 100 miles inland for detection, identification, monitoring, and tracking.
Doctor noted that while most cartels rely on commercial-off-the-shelf drones, more sophisticated aircraft are emerging, including larger agricultural drone devices. Cartels continue to innovate their designs to increase payload sizes, improve resistance to countermeasures, and boost operational capabilities. Surveillance and logistics remain the dominant roles on the border, though weaponized use is more frequently documented inside Mexico. NCITE research identified the Jalisco New Generation Cartel as a key driver of drone innovation, although use has spread among other cartels and across Mexican states.
A 2025 seizure in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, illustrated how border regions support these programs. Mexican security forces detained a man and confiscated a cache of 18 drones alongside 151 explosive objects, two improvised explosive devices, a drone detector, and three counter-drone devices. Doctor said the safehouse was reported as linked to the Los Metros faction of the Gulf Cartel, though the official announcement did not identify a specific group. In October 2025, a drone dropped homemade explosive devices at an anti-kidnapping prosecutor’s office in Tijuana, damaging four vehicles without causing injuries. Authorities described the incident as criminal retaliation but did not publicly identify a cartel.
Mexico is responding with interdictions, counter-drone equipment, and military operations. During last month's Águila Alta operation in the Tijuana-San Diego area, Mexican forces neutralized five drones, detained one person, and seized a gun, magazines, and ammunition. One aircraft was detected in the U.S. and later neutralized in Mexico following information-sharing with Customs and Border Protection. Mexico made certain drone-related conduct a federal crime in 2024, including dropping explosives and surveilling public officials. Earlier this month, Mexico deployed 500 soldiers and National Guard members along with counter-drone systems in five Tamaulipas municipalities. The Navy reported 159 personnel, 11 vehicles, and two drones under Operation Sable.
A Department of War spokesperson said Joint Task Force-Southern Border, CBP, and DHS use layered monitoring systems to observe and engage threats if needed. However, the number of cartel-operated drones remains unknown, as does whether Mexico’s countermeasures are producing results. Doctor cautioned that cartels will likely continue to innovate and adapt.