The Trump administration has intensified covert surveillance operations over Mexico, using CIA drones to track and identify fentanyl production facilities operated by drug cartels, according to U.S. officials familiar with the program.
The classified drone operations, which began under the Biden administration but have expanded under President Trump, involve MQ-9 Reaper drones conducting reconnaissance missions deep into Mexican territory. While currently focused on intelligence gathering, the drones could potentially be adapted for armed strikes in the future.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has made countering Mexican drug cartels a key priority. The agency is leveraging the drones' advanced capabilities to detect chemical signatures emitted by fentanyl labs from the air.
The Mexican government has responded to U.S. pressure by deploying 10,000 troops along the border to combat drug smuggling. However, the Trump administration continues pushing for more aggressive action to dismantle cartel operations.
President Trump has previously advocated for treating cartels as terrorist organizations, signing an executive order to potentially designate them as such. His administration officials, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have indicated openness to using military force against cartel groups.
For now, CIA officers share drone surveillance data with Mexican authorities. While the drones are currently unarmed, they could be modified to carry weapons similar to those used in U.S. operations in Iraq, Somalia and Syria.
Mexico's Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla maintains the flights have not violated national airspace, while President Claudia Sheinbaum has emphasized the importance of information sharing between both governments.
The expanded drone program represents an escalation in the U.S. approach to combating drug cartels, though officials stress the current focus remains on intelligence gathering rather than direct military action.