Drug Cartels Send Cadre to Learn Anti-Drone Tech in Ukraine

Drug cartels are among those profiting from experience in the Ukraine war for applications on smuggling toxic substances into the U.S.A. Gemini provided a summary of some of the drone situation with the Coast Guard and Border Patrol.

Gary- The armed forces of Ukraine are fielding anti-drone drones; do illegal drug importers use that sort of thing to take down border patrol drones?

Gemini-“In 2026, illegal drug importers, primarily Mexican cartels, have significantly escalated their use of drone technology to counter U.S. law enforcement, though their “anti-drone” tactics differ from the kinetic dogfights seen in Ukraine. Rather than solely using “anti-drone drones” to physically ram or take down border patrol assets, cartels primarily use 

electronic warfare, surveillance, and offensive weaponization to disrupt government operations. 

Cartel Anti-Drone and Counter-Surveillance Tactics

• Electronic Warfare: Cartels have begun deploying jammers and other electronic warfare systems to disrupt the control signals of rival cartels’ drones and potentially those of law enforcement.
• Decoy Drones: Smugglers use decoy drones to act as diversions, intentionally drawing Customs and Border Protection (CBP) attention to a “fake” drop site while a secondary drone safely delivers the actual narcotics elsewhere.
• Cyber Attacks and Hacking: Criminal organizations have recruited IT specialists to hack or take control of unencrypted law enforcement drones, sometimes using malware like Maldrone or specialized drones like SkyJack to hijack controls mid-flight.
• Targeting Agents Directly: There are increasing reports and internal warnings of cartels authorizing kamikaze drone attacks specifically targeting U.S. Border Patrol agents and service members with explosives. 

Technological Transfer from Ukraine

There is evidence of direct tactical learning from global conflicts. As of late 2025 and early 2026, investigations have identified cartel members being sent to Ukraine to receive training in the International Legion specifically on offensive drone operations, skills they then bring back to enhance Mexican cartel programs. 

U.S. and Mexican Responses in 2026

• $115 Million DHS Investment: In January 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a massive investment in both drone and counter-drone technologies to specifically address cartel capabilities.
• Joint Intelligence Sharing: On January 20, 2026, the U.S. and Mexico agreed to link intelligence analytics software to identify and thwart drone threats along the border.
• State-Level Authority: New laws in 2025 and early 2026, such as those in Arizona, now legally allow local law enforcement to shoot down or electronically intercept drones suspected of criminal activity along the border. “