U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones based in Puerto Rico have recently been observed flying with heavier-than-usual weapon loads, according to a report by The War Zone.
The sightings coincide with reports that a CIA-operated drone struck a Venezuelan port facility linked to the Tren de Aragua criminal organization, marking the first U.S. land-based operation in its campaign against narcotics trafficking. Details about the operation, including the exact location and the type of drone used, remain undisclosed.
Photos circulating on social media showed that between Dec. 21 and Dec. 24, MQ-9 drones flying from Aguadilla, a city in northwestern Puerto Rico, were armed with six, eight, and eventually 10 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.
And a few days later we have now beat that record with a total of 10x AGM-114 Hellfires on a single unit.
Armed with a pair of 4x racks and a single 2x rack. https://t.co/PaqNBxSzXf pic.twitter.com/L1YauZlk4u
— SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) December 27, 2025
BQN morning updates 8:59am 12/24/2025. pic.twitter.com/CHznbgS7xH
— Michael Bonet 🇵🇷 (@MichaelBonet8) December 24, 2025
Previously, Reapers operating from Puerto Rico typically carried two to four Hellfire missiles per mission, along with standard fuel tanks and mission pods, a common loadout for drones worldwide.
The reason Reapers have recently begun flying more heavily armed missions from Aguadilla is unclear, but, according to TWZ, the loadouts appear inconsistent with the scope of the ongoing campaign targeting small boats in the region.
Between Sept. 2 and Dec. 30, U.S. forces destroyed at least 34 vessels and killed more than 100 suspected narco-terrorists in operations against drug trafficking. According to TWZ, at least some of these missions have been carried out by AC-130J gunships.
‼️🇺🇸 An AC 130 gunship, supported by helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, tracked and destroyed a submersible vessel believed to be used for drug trafficking.
The operation showed strong coordination between air assets, delivering precise firepower and rapid response to shut… pic.twitter.com/Yitu0mf1Gx
— Defense Intelligence (@DI313_) December 28, 2025
