Cartels Deploy FPV Drones and Anti-UAS Systems in Criminal Arms Race

Mexican drug cartels have dramatically escalated their use of weaponized FPV drones, transitioning from crude bomb-dropping quadcopters to sophisticated first-person view (FPV) attack drones while simultaneously deploying counter-drone systems worth over $100,000, according to reporting from The New York Times and intelligence sources.

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) made history in April 2025 by conducting the first confirmed FPV drone attack in Mexico, marking a significant technological leap in cartel warfare capabilities. Unlike traditional hover-and-drop drone attacks, FPV drones carry explosives that detonate on contact, allowing precision targeting including flying through obstacles and into buildings.

Explosive Growth in Drone Attacks

Mexican military data reveals a staggering increase in cartel drone operations: from just 5 attacks in 2020 to 260 in 2023, with incidents now occurring almost daily in contested regions like Michoacán. The Mexican Army confirmed that some soldiers have been killed by these drone attacks, though specific casualty figures remain classified.

Cartels have established dedicated drone units, with the CJNG creating a specialized “Drone Operators” division complete with custom insignia. These units employ commercial quadcopters modified to carry various payloads, including military-grade explosives, improvised bombs made from plastic bottles and fire extinguishers, and chemical weapons containing aluminum phosphide and other toxic pesticides.

Advanced Training and Foreign Expertise

Intelligence reports indicate cartel members have infiltrated Ukraine’s International Legion specifically to acquire FPV drone expertise from combat zones. Mexican and Ukrainian intelligence agencies are investigating Spanish-speaking volunteers who joined drone operator units, including one Mexican national operating under the alias “Águila-7” who demonstrated exceptional technical knowledge of electronic warfare countermeasures.

The cartels have also recruited Colombian and Venezuelan former military personnel to establish three-month training camps where recruits learn drone operations alongside conventional weapons training. U.S. Delta Force and Navy personnel have reportedly served as advisors in some CJNG training facilities.

Counter-Drone Arms Race

As drone warfare intensifies, cartels have begun fielding sophisticated counter-UAS systems. The Mayito Flaco faction of the Sinaloa Cartel was photographed with a SkyFend counter-drone jammer retailing for approximately $100,000. CJNG forces have been spotted with QR-07S3 Digital Eagle Anti Drone Guns, available for $20,000 per unit.

Mexican authorities, struggling to keep pace, have formed specialized anti-bomb units but remain severely outmatched. Captain Mario Gómez, who leads Michoacán’s 18-member bomb squad, reports his team has seized over 2,000 improvised explosive devices in two years, including a 40-millimeter grenade modified for drone delivery—the first of its kind documented in Mexico.

Border Security Implications

U.S. officials report cartels conducted over 27,000 drone flights within 500 meters of the southern border during the last six months of 2024, with nearly 60,000 unique flights primarily occurring at night. These drones can fly for over 45 minutes, reach speeds exceeding 100 mph, and carry payloads over 100 pounds.

The Biden administration initiated covert CIA drone surveillance over Mexico using MQ-9 Reaper drones to track cartel operations, a program that has expanded under the Trump administration. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other agencies have deployed counter-drone systems along the border, while the Pentagon considers potential drone strikes against cartel targets.

DroneXL’s Take

The rapid evolution from commercial quadcopters to FPV attack drones represents a concerning technology transfer from conflict zones to criminal organizations. With cartels now investing in six-figure counter-drone systems and sending operatives to Ukraine for advanced training, we’re witnessing the emergence of non-state actors with drone capabilities that rival some military forces.

Critical questions remain: How will drone manufacturers respond to criminal weaponization of their products? Can existing counter-UAS technology effectively protect border agents from increasingly sophisticated cartel drone operations? As this drone arms race accelerates just miles from the U.S. border, the implications for both military drone doctrine and civilian airspace security demand urgent attention.

What measures do you think drone manufacturers and regulators should implement to prevent criminal organizations from weaponizing commercial UAVs? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Photos courtesy of Reuters.