Growing concern in the U.S. over possible drone attacks by Mexican cartels on the border

U.S. authorities have issued a stark warning: the use of drones by Mexican cartels along the border with Mexico is not only increasing, but also poses a direct threat to law enforcement and civilians. During a Senate appearance on July 22, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials stated that it is “only a matter of time” before a drone attack against U.S. personnel occurs.

The concern is not new, but the numbers and patterns detected have raised the level of alarm among border authorities.

Steven Willoughby, head of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program at the DHS Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans, revealed that in the second half of 2024 alone , more than 27,000 drones were detected flying within 500 meters of the southern border. Most of these devices operated at night, between 8:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., when darkness favors aerial smuggling and hostile surveillance .

Many of these drones were flying at altitudes exceeding 120 meters, the maximum permitted limit in both the U.S. and Mexico, indicating intentional violations of air regulations .

According to Willoughby, drones are not only used to transport drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl, but also to monitor the movements of US law enforcement . This type of “ hostile surveillance ” is increasingly common and is part of the advanced tactics adopted by transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) .

Since 2019, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has seized thousands of kilograms of drugs transported by drones, including more than 545 kilograms in the last six months of 2024 alone .

One of the most worrying examples occurred in October 2023 , when a drone crossed from Mexico into the US carrying 1.6 kilos of fentanyl pills , enough, according to Willoughby, “to kill tens of thousands of Americans .”

This incident underscores the lethal capabilities of drones used by cartels, which are no longer limited to low-risk operations but could be preparing deliberate attacks against human targets along the border.

Another fact that alarms authorities is that, thanks to aerial drone detection , more than 1,500 people have been arrested along the southwest border. These arrests not only represent advances in surveillance, but also demonstrate the widespread and coordinated use of this technology by criminal groups.

“This is a clear indicator that TCOs are adopting drone-based tactics not only for smuggling, but also to evade and monitor law enforcement,” Willoughby told senators.

The DHS believes this trend will only increase if more robust regulations and technological capabilities to detect and neutralize drones in real time are not established. The problem is no longer just drug trafficking: what is now a concern is the real possibility of a direct attack against US personnel, whether with explosives, toxic substances, or even suicide drones.

“ It’s only a matter of time before Americans or law enforcement are targeted in the border region,” Willoughby warned, making clear the urgency of the threat.

What began as a smuggling tool now represents a potential weapon against U.S. national security . The mass detection of drones, their use in drug trafficking, and the surveillance of border agents are signs of a dangerous tactical evolution in the hands of organized crime.

The scenario facing authorities is no longer just a fight against drugs, but also a shadowy technological war , in which drones could transform from transportation tools into offensive weapons . Measures taken in the coming months could define the course of this silent threat on the U.S.-Mexico border.