Alleged El Paso drone incursions spotlight Mexican cartels' arsenals

An alleged incursion by Mexican cartel drones into US airspace and the sudden closure of El Paso’s airspace has drawn renewed attention to the use of high-powered weapons by organized crime groups in Mexico. There were conflicting accounts on Wednesday about whether the city’s airspace was shut down due to cartel drones or a disagreement over the Pentagon testing of counter-drone technology, but experts say the use of drones by drug gangs at the border has become increasingly common.

Veronica Escobar, a Democratic congresswoman representing El Paso, said forays by Mexican drug-trafficking groups into American airspace was "nothing new." "There have been drone incursions from Mexico going back to as long as drones existed," Escobar said. As Mexico’s cartels have grown more moneyed and powerful, they have also become increasingly well armed: drug traffickers and hitmen are no longer just wielding pistols and rifles, but also drones that drop bombs, improvised explosive devices, armored vehicles, landmines and grenade launchers.

United States, El Paso

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