Mexican cartels are using swarms of drones to conduct attacks on Mexico’s Security and Law Enforcement. Over the last several months this tactic has unfortunately been highly successful. The cartels have been placing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on consumer drones and dropping grenades from them, resulting in the deaths of members of staff and security. 

One attack in particular where a swarm of drones targeted the National Guard killing 12 soldiers. This led to urgent consideration of counter-UAS technology like MESMER to be installed to mitigate drones within a protected area. 

An attack in the state of Michoacan in Mexico indicates the use of drones by drug cartels is rapidly escalating.

In Mexico City, a drone attack injuring two police officers shows how Mexico’s powerful drug cartels are arming themselves, and building up their arsenals as part of violent turf wars engulfing the western state of Michoacan.

Media reports said Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG for its Spanish acronym) used drones to attack local police headquarters earlier this week, however, it was unclear which criminal group was responsible. A CJNG source in the Aguililla region told VICE World News that the group wasn’t responsible for the recent attack, and accused rivals of using the drones to "heat up the plaza" and attract police attention.

Although drug cartels have begun to equip their own off-the-shelf drones with explosives, the most recent attack marks the first time that one of these weaponized drones has caused fatal injuries.

The attack took place close to the town of Aguililla, a strategic entryway to an area known as the Tierra Caliente, which loosely translates as hot lands, where opium is cultivated and which has long been disputed by organised crime for control over trafficking routes and extortion rackets. It’s also notorious for being the birthplace of the alleged leader of the CJNG, Nemesio Oseguera, alias “El Mencho”.

Fighting around the area has increased over the past four months, as the CJNG has tried to take control of the area from local criminal gangs. El Mencho is believed to have a special interest in establishing his cartel in his hometown.

Reported on vice.com: Read the entire article here.

How Department 13's advanced technology could assist in the commercial industry;

• Department 13’s C-UAS solution MESMER, provides the capability to detect and protect people and assets from airborne threats such as these drone bombs.
• MESMER intelligently listens and identifies drones/drone swarms flying within the airspace enabling users to coordinate incident response processes and forces.
• MESMER provides the user with the ability to neutralise the drone(s) threat through non-jamming / non-kinetic and safe ‘soft kill’ control mitigations.
• MESMER is also easily integrated into existing C2 systems and accompanying drone sensor/mitigation platforms to provide more enhanced capabilities. 

To find out how Department 13 technology can assist your industry or specific requirements, contact us for an initial confidential discussion.