US Military Detects 378 Border Drone Incursions in 30 Days as Cartels Expand Surveillance
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 14
US Military Detects 378 Border Drone Incursions in 30 Days as Cartels Expand Surveillance
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 14
Summary
378 drone incursions were detected along the southern border in the past 30 days, with Joint Task Force-Southern Border saying the trend is rising.
Commercial drones with cameras are mainly being used to watch U.S. personnel, map patrol patterns and support smuggling and human-trafficking routes, while larger modified aircraft are beginning to appear.
CBP said it logged more than 42,000 near-border drone flights in FY25 and over 37,000 in FY26, and said Border Patrol now has DHS-approved counter-UAS coverage across the Southwest border and 100 miles inland.
Mexico has expanded its response with interdictions, counter-drone systems and troop deployments, including a recent Tijuana-area operation that neutralized five drones, but officials have not shown whether traffic has fallen.
Researchers say weaponized drone attacks remain more common inside Mexico, yet border hubs such as Tijuana face a credible risk as cartels keep adapting payloads, countermeasure resistance and operating tactics.