Senior Pentagon commanders have shed light on the “alarming” frequency of drone incursions along the US-Mexico border. According to Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of North American Defense Command (NORAD) and US Northern Command, the number of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) entering US airspace from Mexico is in the thousands, with estimates exceeding 1,000 drones per month.
These incursions are not only numerous but also pose a growing potential threat to national security, as stated by Gen. Guillot during the hearing. Although the precise number of drone crossings remains uncertain, the scale and regularity of these incidents have raised considerable alarm among defense officials.
Mexican cartels are reportedly utilizing drones for multiple purposes, including tracking the movements of US authorities to facilitate human and drug smuggling activities more effectively. In the Rio Grande Valley Sector alone, over 10,000 drone incursions and 25,000 drone sightings were reported last year, according to Chief Patrol Agent Gloria Chavez.Â
In some cases, drones equipped with high-definition cameras have been used to identify and avoid Border Patrol positions, while others are being used to transport narcotics into the US. Smaller drones have been found capable of carrying up to five pounds of drugs, including potent substances like fentanyl, directly into Texas.
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