- U.S. Border Patrol obtained a memo revealing that Mexican drug cartels have authorized the use of weaponized drones to attack agents and law enforcement officers along the Rio Grande Valley.
- The use of weaponized drones represents a significant escalation in cartel tactics, indicating a shift towards more advanced and asymmetrical warfare strategies.
- The State Department has issued a Level Four travel advisory for Tamaulipas, Mexico, due to the increasing presence of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) constructed using common mining explosives.
- Gun battles between U.S. Border Patrol and the Cartel del Noreste near Fronton, Texas, have intensified, with recent incidents involving gunfire from the Mexican side of the border.
- The federal government must take decisive action to address this threat by strengthening border security, designating cartels as terrorist organizations, and providing law enforcement with the necessary resources to combat these sophisticated criminal networks.
(Natural News)—The southern border of the United States has long been a battleground, but a chilling new development has escalated the stakes to unprecedented levels. According to a U.S. Border Patrol memo obtained by Newsmax, Mexican drug cartels have authorized the use of weaponized drones to attack Border Patrol agents and law enforcement officers along the Rio Grande Valley. This alarming revelation underscores the growing sophistication and audacity of transnational criminal organizations, posing a direct threat to American sovereignty and national security.
A new frontier in cartel warfare
The internal memo, dated January 31, 2025, warns agents to exercise extreme caution as intelligence indicates cartels are deploying drones equipped with explosives. The memo highlights heightened activity near Fronton, Texas, where recent gun battles between U.S. Border Patrol and the Cartel del Noreste have intensified.
“This is a major increase in threat to the United States, and it’s specifically in the southern region where we’ve been talking about recently,” reported Jaeson Jones of Newsmax. “We’ve had a lot of gun battles between the U.S. Border Patrol and Cartel del Noreste near Fronton, Texas.”
The use of weaponized drones represents a significant escalation in cartel tactics. Historically, cartels have relied on smuggling, kidnapping and armed confrontations to maintain their grip on power. However, the adoption of drone technology signals a shift toward more advanced and asymmetrical warfare tactics, mirroring strategies employed by terrorist organizations in conflict zones like the Middle East.
Explosives and IEDs: A growing menace
The threat extends beyond drones. The State Department has issued a Level Four travel advisory for Tamaulipas, the Mexican state bordering Texas, warning U.S. government personnel and citizens to avoid the region due to the increasing presence of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These devices have been discovered in cities such as Reynosa, Rio Bravo, Valle Hermoso and San Fernando.
“As a precaution, U.S. government employees have been ordered to avoid all travel in and around Reynosa and Rio Bravo outside of daylight hours and to avoid dirt roads throughout Tamaulipas,” the advisory states.
Cartels have long used Tovex, a common mining explosive, to construct IEDs. “They’ve been using this kind of explosive going back to 2010,” Jones explained. “The reason is because you can get it all over. They use it to make roads. They use it for mining.”
The deployment of IEDs and weaponized drones underscores the cartels’ ability to adapt and innovate, posing a direct challenge to U.S. law enforcement and border security efforts.
Gun battles and cartel aggression
The situation on the ground remains volatile. On January 27, U.S. Border Patrol agents exchanged gunfire with suspected cartel members near Fronton, Texas. A gunshot was fired from the Mexican side of the border, prompting agents to return fire. Fortunately, no Border Patrol agents were injured.
Lt. Chris Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety shared footage of the incident on social media, stating, “DPS Drone Operators captured the gunmen fleeing Mexico due to military presence, & seeking refuge on an island between the U.S. & Mexico. The State of Texas will continue to monitor the area closely & use every resource available to prevent transnational threats to our law enforcement partners & the homeland.”
The area, known as “Cartel Island,” has become a hotspot for cartel activity. “Being fired on by the cartel is not necessarily unprecedented,” reported NewsNation’s Ali Bradley. “Unfortunately, my agents are texting me saying, ‘Unfortunately, we’re used to that.’”
Historical context: A border in crisis
The escalation of cartel violence is not an isolated incident but the culmination of years of failed policies and lax enforcement. During the Trump administration, efforts were made to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, a move that would have provided additional tools to combat their operations. However, the current administration has yet to follow through on this critical step.
The cartels’ billion-dollar drug trade fuels their ability to arm themselves with advanced weaponry and technology. As Art Del Cueto, vice president of the National Border Patrol Council, noted, “The violence is going to go on because it’s a billion-dollar industry; they gotta keep their money.”
A call to action
The use of weaponized drones and IEDs by cartels represents a clear and present danger to U.S. national security. It is imperative that the federal government takes decisive action to address this threat. Strengthening border security, designating cartels as terrorist organizations, and providing law enforcement with the resources they need to combat these sophisticated criminal networks must be top priorities.
As President Donald Trump recently told House Republicans, “I focus on the border more than anything else.” In light of these developments, it is clear that the American people must demand the same level of focus and urgency from their leaders. The safety of our border agents and the security of our nation depend on it.
The southern border is no longer just a line on a map—it is a frontline in a new era of cross-border warfare. The time to act is now, before the next drone strike or IED explosion claims American lives.
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