U.S. Military Says It Shot Down 300 Cartel Drones Along Mexican Border

The United States says it has shot down more than 300 drones operated by criminal organizations along the Mexican border since the start of 2026, including 100 in August alone.

U.S. Northern Command said the drones supported illegal cross-border activity, including smuggling and surveillance of law-enforcement and military personnel. It did not identify a specific cartel or say whether the drones were brought down on the U.S. or Mexican side of the border.

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Transnational criminal organizations use them to support illegal cross-border activity, including smuggling operations and surveillance of law-enforcement and military personnel.

Mexico’s Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla said the devices were used mainly by migrant smugglers to locate stretches of the border “where there is no authority present.” Cartels have also used drones against rival groups and government authorities.

In October last year, an explosive-laden drone attacked the prosecutor’s office in Tijuana, a Mexican city on the U.S. border. The strike caused damage but no casualties.

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Where there is no authority present.