US intensifies covert drone surveillance over Mexico to target fentanyl labs

The US has ramped up covert drone flights over Mexico to search for fentanyl labs as part of a more aggressive strategy against drug cartels.

This secret drone initiative, which began under the Biden administration, had not been previously disclosed, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

However, President Trump and his CIA director, John Ratcliffe, had promised stronger action against Mexican drug cartels, with increased drone operations serving as an initial move. While the CIA has not been authorized to use drones for lethal strikes, they are gathering intelligence, which is shared with Mexican authorities.

The flights go “well into sovereign Mexico,” one US official said. 

The Mexican government has taken steps to address the concerns raised by the Trump administration regarding fentanyl, including deploying 10,000 troops to the border this month to prevent smuggling. However, the Trump administration urges Mexico to take stronger action by dismantling or destroying fentanyl labs and seizing more of the drug. The drones have proven effective in detecting fentanyl labs, as the chemicals they emit make them easily identifiable from the air. 

However, under the Biden administration, the Mexican government was slow to act on the labs identified by the US, though it did use the intelligence to make some arrests. The officials, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the classified intelligence program and diplomatic relations between Mexico and the US, noted that the surveillance flights have caused concern in Mexico, which has long been cautious of US involvement due to past invasions and land disputes.

In addition to the CIA's efforts, the US military’s Northern Command is also increasing its surveillance of the border. However, unlike the CIA, the US military is not entering Mexican airspace. Northern Command has carried out over two dozen surveillance flights along the southern border using a range of aircraft, including U-2s, RC-135 Rivet Joints, P-8s, and drones. Additionally, the military has established a specialized intelligence task force of 140 analysts based near the border to analyze the data collected from these surveillance flights, as well as other sources. 

General Gregory M. Guillot, head of Northern Command, informed the Senate last week that the analysts are providing intelligence aimed at dismantling the cartel networks responsible for the production and distribution of fentanyl and smuggling it across the border. In response to lawmakers' questions, General Guillot confirmed that this intelligence was shared with Mexican officials to aid them in addressing cartel violence, particularly by sending more troops. He added that his command had ramped up intelligence gathering efforts to ensure "rapid progress against this threat."

By Naila Huseynova