Intelligence agencies from Mexico and Ukraine are investigating reports that members of drug cartels are infiltrating the Ukrainian conflict to gain experience using FPV drones (First-Person View), cheap and highly effective weapons.
According to the French publication Intelligence Online, these criminals are enlisting in the Ukrainian International Legion, formed to receive foreign fighters, with the goal of learning advanced techniques and later applying them in their internal wars. The fear is that knowledge gained in real combat will accelerate the militarization of the cartels, which have already begun using these drones in recent attacks.
The Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel, two of the largest criminal factions in Mexico, are reportedly already testing FPV drones in confrontations. In March, one of these devices was found intact after a failed attack in the state of Nayarit. Experts say the groups seek to replicate Ukrainian tactics, where these devices are used to destroy vehicles, infiltrate buildings, and even eliminate specific targets with precision.
Ukraine has become a training ground not only for soldiers but also for criminals interested in modern warfare. FPV drone pilots require intensive training, as operation demands skills close to those of an aircraft pilot.
Ukrainian authorities have already cross-checked suspicious volunteers’ data with Interpol and DEA records, identifying possible links to Latin American drug militias. “Some came just to learn how to kill with a $400 drone and sell that knowledge,” denounced an agent of the SBU, Ukraine’s secret service.
If the use of these weapons becomes widespread among cartels, violence in Mexico could reach a new level. Besides attacking improvised armored vehicles, drones could be used in targeted assassinations, following the model seen in Ukraine. With CJNG leading the adoption of this technology, experts warn that cartels are becoming increasingly like irregular armies, capable of challenging not only rivals but also security forces.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @DefenceU | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
