US Government Operating MQ-9 Reaper Drones Over Mexico in Counter-Narcotics Initiative

The CIA is conducting previously unreported surveillance flights using MQ-9 Reaper drones over Mexico as part of counter-narcotics operations, according to current and former officials familiar with the program. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed these flights are occurring with Mexico’s collaboration and at their government’s request, reports CNN.

Operational Details

The drone operations focus on locating fentanyl labs in northwestern Mexico, coming amid increased pressure from the Trump administration on Mexico to combat drug trafficking. While the MQ-9 Reaper drones deployed for these missions are currently unarmed, they have the capability to be equipped with payloads for precision strikes – a capability regularly used in Syria, Iraq, and Somalia, though there’s no indication of plans to do so in Mexico.

The timing of these operations coincides with several significant policy developments. Earlier this month, President Trump threatened, then postponed, 25% tariffs on Mexican imports intended to push Mexico to take stronger action against drug cartels. Mexico responded by deploying 10,000 National Guard troops to its northern border.

Program Evolution

Sources indicate the CIA has previously operated surveillance drones in Mexico under at least one small program partnering with Mexican authorities. However, the current flights represent a distinct escalation, evidenced by their communication to Congress using notification procedures reserved for new or updated covert programs meant to be concealed or denied.

Mexican officials have offered varying statements about U.S. surveillance activities. Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla initially addressed U.S. military plane flights last week, stating they had not entered Mexican airspace while acknowledging he couldn’t rule out espionage activities. President Sheinbaum later provided more detail, characterizing the flights as part of long-standing coordination between the two governments, emphasizing that information gathered is shared with Mexican authorities.

Policy Context

These drone operations align with the Trump administration’s broader initiative to shift counter-terrorism resources toward cartel-related activities. A 30-page Trump transition planning document titled “2025 Agency Action Plan” specifically directed treating counter-drug cartel work as a form of counter-terrorism, including the reallocation of resources from other regions if necessary.

The State Department has drafted a list of cartels for potential designation as foreign terrorist organizations, including transnational gangs MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, as well as several Mexican cartels such as the Sinaloa, Jalisco, Zetas, Gulf cartels, Cartel Unidos, and La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM).

This development marks a significant shift in how counter-narcotics operations are being conducted along the U.S.-Mexico border, though its long-term implications remain to be seen. The CIA has declined to comment specifically about the drone missions, though a spokesperson noted that “countering drug cartels in Mexico and regionally is a priority for CIA as a part of the Trump Administration’s broader efforts to end the grave threat from narco-trafficking.”

Photos courtesy of Wikipedia.