The Emergence of Explosive Cartel Drones

Modern-day drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been around for many years. Militaries have used attack drones dating back to WWI. Civilian use of drones has been mostly peaceful beyond the battlefield until recently. There have been media reports of ISIS using exploding drones in 2016. This idea has now been picked up by Cartel in Michoacan, Mexico.

On April 21, 2021, one of Mexico’s most prominent cartels, the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), used a drone to attack police who had recently cleared a roadblock near the town of El Aguaje, Michoacán. Two police officers were injured in the attack but were released from the hospital by the end of the day. The blockade resulted in a shortage of food, medicine and supplies to the region, as the CJNG were in a turf war with another cartel known as Carteles Unidos (CU). As explained here, turf wars are a common occurrence in the region as organized crime syndicates across Mexico return to traditional operations and look for alternative revenue streams with closed borders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The following infographic visually represents the emergence of explosive cartel drones.

According to local media reports, the roads were blocked again after the attack, highlighting the police’s failure to protect the local public.

The broadening tactics by the cartel show the innovative thinking behind organized crime and will most likely be used again against security forces and rival cartels.

With the deteriorating security conditions in the region, the continuing turf war creates travel security challenges. Those operating in Michoacán should maintain heightened vigilance and be aware of developments in the region that could lead to further attacks.

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