An MQ-9 Guardian drone, operated by the United States Border Patrol and Customs (CBP), entered deep into Mexican airspace this Thursday on an unusual mission that coincides with the Trump administration’s plans to intensify military actions against drug cartels.
The flight, tracked by public systems, covered over 1,200 km, including about 965 km over Mexican territory, before disappearing from radar. Mexican authorities claim the operation was carried out at the request of the Mexican government, but analysts suspect the drone may be involved in surveillance against the La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM) cartel, known for trafficking fentanyl into the US.
The mission comes a week after revelations that President Trump secretly authorized the use of military forces against Latin American cartels, classified as terrorist organizations. Although CBP drones are unarmed, their advanced surveillance capabilities, including high-precision radar and electro-optical sensors, make them valuable tools for monitoring strategic targets. Security experts suggest that the area flown over, dominated by the LNFM, could house wanted leaders or drug labs, which are priority targets for the US.
This is not the first time American drones have operated in Mexico, but the depth and duration of this flight are noteworthy. Previous reports indicate that the CIA is also using unarmed MQ-9 Reapers to spy on cartels in an operation that started during the Biden administration.
While authorities are avoiding confirming details, the movement highlights the growing militarization of the war on drugs, with the US expanding its presence in the region, even though the exact mission of this drone remains, for now, a mystery.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @usairforce | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
US Reaper drone orbiting deep inside Mexico
Is this like US an anti-cartel operation? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/6LdQiQcKcp
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) August 13, 2025
