US says it has shot down more than 300 drones linked to organized crime at Mexican border

The United States says it has shot down more than 300 drones linked to organized crime along the Mexican border since the beginning of the year, including 100 in August alone.

U.S. Northern Command, which covers the United States and neighboring countries, linked the drones to drug cartels but did not name any particular group. It also did not say whether the operations took place on U.S. or Mexican territory.

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

“Transnational criminal organizations use drones to support illegal cross-border activities, including smuggling operations and surveillance of law enforcement and military personnel,” the command said.

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Clear routes where there is no presence of authorities.

Mexico’s Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla described the aircraft as commercial drones. He said they were used to identify “clear routes where there is no presence of authorities.” The drones, he said, “only take images and transmit them.”

Speaking at President Claudia Sheinbaum’s daily news conference, Trevilla said Mexico and the United States had achieved “very good coordination,” without clarifying whether Mexico had taken part in any of the U.S. operations. Mexico has deployed 165 counter-drone systems along its northern border, he said, producing “good results.”

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Only take images and transmit them.

The U.S. command said it uses firearms, signal jammers and lasers to destroy the drones.

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Very good coordination.