Cartel Drone Evolution: Cartel Weaponization of Aerial IEDs

SMALL WARS & INSURGENCIES, 2023

This study examines the evolution of drone tactics employed by drug cartels in Mexico from 2017 to 2022. The research traces the increasing sophistication of drone technology, payload capacities, and adaptability of cartels in employing airborne drones in low-intensity conflicts It also highlights the increasing reliance on drones for various purposes. The analysis reveals insights into how criminal organizations adapt to the changing technological landscape, incorporating drones into their operations and creating new challenges for law enforcement. The analysis outlines strategies and identifies specialized measures to counteract this asymmetric warfare.

Small Wars Journal, 2021

This research note documents two recent developments in the proliferation of weaponized consumer drones (aerial improvised explosive devices) in Mexico. The first incident is an alleged attack by the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) in Tepalcatepec, Michoacán on the morning of 4 May 2021. The second is the arrest of two suspected Cártel de Santa Rosa de Lima (CSRL) drone weaponeers in Puebla on 22 April 2021. Both incidents follow the widely reported 20 April 2021 drone attack in Aguililla, Michoacán.

Counter-IED Report, 2021

This article recaps the evolution of cartel use of weaponized aerial consumer drones in Mexico. Four weaponized drone incidents are discussed and future potentials assessed.

Small Wars Journal, 2020

Search and seizure operations were conducted by Mexican federal agencies in San Andrés Cholula, Puebla state on 25-26 April 2020 due to an anonymous tip. These operations resulted in the seizure of a ‘terrorist arsenal’ (arsenal terrorista) of weapons and equipment including the components required to make weaponized drones. This arsenal is thought to be linked to ongoing organized crime bombings in Guanajuato state—with possible Cártel de Santa Rosa de Lima (CSRL) ties—and represents one more data point concerning the growing weaponized drone capabilities of the Mexican cartels and criminal gangs.

Small Wars Journal, 2020

The Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) is alleged to have attempted to deploy two weaponsized drones with C4 or similar type explosives against their rivals—the Carteles Unidos (United Cartels)—in Tepalcatepec, Michoacán on 25 July 2020. The weaponized drones were not successfully deployed and were found by a local self-defense group (autodefensas) known as El grupo de autodefensa en Tepalcatepec

Small Wars Journal, 2018

On Tuesday, 10 July 2018, an armed drone targeted the residence of Gerardo Sosa Olachea, the public safety secretary/Secretario de Seguridad Pública Estalal (SSPE) of Baja California, in colonia Los Laureles in Tecate—a border city in the San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan area. A second drone, which may have been utilized for ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) and C2 purposes, was seen over the incident scene. At least one of the drones was equipped with a video camera link and was armed with two IEDs that did not detonate. For a number of international security professionals tracking cartel and gang violence in Mexico—including the authors of this note—an incident like this has been expected for some time now, given the earlier I&W (Indications & Warnings) event that took place in Guanajunto state in October 2017 when a weaponized drone was seized from Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) operatives.

C/O Futures Cartel Research Note Series, 2023

On 22 April 2023, a Sinaloa Cartel (Cártel de Sinaloa; CDS) ambush used a weaponized drone attack (aerial bombardment) in Teocaltiche, Jalisco on Calle Juárez (Juárez Street) next to the intersection with Pensador Mexicano. A mobile element belonging to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación; CJNG) was targeted, resulting in their vehicle being set on fire and their personnel needing to engage in escape and evasion (E&E) tactics. This is the first documented incident in which the Sinaloa Cartel has overtly utilized weaponized drones and can be considered another firebreak crossed concerning weaponized drone use proliferation amongst the Mexican cartels.

2017

An improvised explosive drone ('dron bomba') was interdicted by Mexican Federal Police/Policía Federal (PF) in Guanajunto in Central Mexico at daybreak of Friday, 20 October 2017. Four men were arrested following a 'high-risk' vehicle stop on the Salamanca-Morelia highway. The discovery of an improvised Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)—also known as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)—is the latest example of cartel weapons evolution. The IED is consistent with recent papas bombas (potato bombs) employment by the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). Guanajunto is currently contested by several cartels including the CJNG, Los Zetas, and the Sinaloa cartel.

C/O Futures Cartel Research Note Series, 2022

The Guardia Nacional (National Guard; GN), in cooperation with the Ejército Mexicano (Mexican Army), seized over ninety drone bomblets belonging to an organized criminal group in the municipality of Buenavista Tomatlán, Michoacán. The location of the munitions cache, supported by forensic analysis conducted by C/O Futures, suggests that the bomblets belonged to the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and were meant for weaponized drone use. CJNG has been involved in the deployment of weaponized drones since at least October 2017 when an improvised explosive drone ('dron bomba') was first recovered in Valtierrilla, Guanajuato.[1]

Forensic Science & Addiction Research, 2018

In our contemporary World, drones (unmanned aerial vehicles-UAV) enter our daily life due to its increasing usage area. Looking at the history of drones, while they were used for military purposes at the beginning, nowadays they are adapting to a wide range of social activities from advertisements to extreme sport videos. However, drones have been reported to be abused for illegal drug transfers along the country borders and within the countries. With this method, the most transported drug is methamphetamine, while the others are heroin, cannabis, and cocaine. Furthermore, the release of illegal drugs into prisons through the drones is a critical danger that our awareness must be raised. In present study, cases and outbreaks of illegal substance transports via drones were examined through various search engines. In this respect, it is aimed to draw attention to such events and to contribute to take the necessary precautions at global scale.