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CIA uses drones to sniff out cartels and fentanyl labs in Mexico: US Official

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been conducting surveillance flights with drones over Mexico in partnership with the U.S. neighbor to the south, to gather intelligence on cartels and fentanyl laboratories, according to a senior U.S. official. The Biden administration authorized the use of MQ9 Reaper drones, which the official said are not armed and “not lethal,” over Mexico to focus on locating fentanyl labs and cartels.

President Donald Trump’s administration continued the program, which is being done in coordination with the Mexican government. The intelligence gathered from these surveillance missions is shared with the Mexican government, which in turn has the authority to act on shutting down any illegal activities associated with the cartels and labs.

Felipe de Jesus Gallo, the head of Mexico’s Criminal Investigation Agency, stated last year that Mexico has been a major producer of methamphetamine and fentanyl since the 1990s. He emphasized that methamphetamine production has become industrialized in Mexico, with drug laboratories now being found in various states throughout the country.

Experts agree that Mexican cartels rely on precursor chemicals from China and India to produce synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which are then smuggled into the United States. This illicit trade has led to approximately 70,000 overdose deaths annually in the U.S. due to fentanyl abuse.

While fentanyl is not as widely abused in Mexico, methamphetamine addiction is prevalent. The cartels have capitalized on this demand by launching industrial-scale production of meth in multiple states and exporting the drug globally. The meth trade has become so profitable and sophisticated that Mexican meth is now being shipped to countries as far away as Hong Kong and Australia.

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In recent years, Mexican authorities have made significant drug busts, including seizing over half a million fentanyl pills in Culiacan. Soldiers also confiscated large quantities of powdered fentanyl and methamphetamine during these operations. The scale of these seizures highlights the extent of the drug trade and the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating it.

The use of drones by the CIA in surveillance missions over Mexico underscores the ongoing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and dismantle illegal drug laboratories. By collaborating with the Mexican government, the U.S. aims to target key players in the drug trade and prevent the flow of deadly substances like fentanyl across the border.

The intelligence gathered from these surveillance flights will continue to inform law enforcement efforts in both countries to combat drug trafficking and protect public health. The partnership between the U.S. and Mexico in this endeavor highlights the shared commitment to addressing the challenges posed by drug cartels and the illicit drug trade.

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