US spy planes hunt for intel on Mexican drug cartels as surveillance flights surge near border


The US military has significantly increased its surveillance of Mexican drug cartels over the past two weeks, with sophisticated spy planes flying at least 18 missions over the southwestern US and in international airspace around the Baja peninsula, according to open-source data and three US officials familiar with the missions.

The flights, conducted over a 10-day period in late January and early February, represent a dramatic escalation in activity, current and former military officials say, and come as President Donald Trump directs the military to secure the border and deter cartels’ drug smuggling operations.

Read more…
Source: CNN News


Sign up for Counter-IED Report Newsletter


Related:

  • Most land mine use by US military banned, except for Korea

    June 21, 2022

    President Joe Biden’s administration announced Tuesday that it would restrict the use of anti-personnel land mines by the U.S. military, aligning the country’s policy more closely with an international treaty banning the deadly explosives. “The president believes strongly that we need to curtail their use worldwide,” John Kirby, a national security spokesman, said at a White ...

  • FACT SHEET: Changes to U.S. Anti-Personnel Landmine Policy

    June 21, 2022

    Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing important policy changes to U.S. Anti-Personnel Landmine policy. After conducting a comprehensive policy review, the United States is joining the vast majority of countries around the world in committing to limit the use of anti-personnel landmines (APL).These changes reflect the President’s belief that these weapons have disproportionate impact on ...

  • Homemade bomb found by West Michigan roadside, brought to City Hall

    June 21, 2022

    Michigan State Police are among those investigating after an improvised explosive device (IED) was found by a Michigan roadside. According to authorities, a Brooks Township citizen drove to the Newaygo Police Department with a strange object they found by the roadside Monday. They contacted a City Hall staff member, reporting that they had a suspicious item he believed ...

  • Iron Dragons assume mission command over domestic CBRN defense response task force

    June 21, 2022

    JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – The 110th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Battalion (Technical Escort) “Iron Dragons” have assumed mission command of Task Force 2 in the Defense CBRN Response Force. Known as the DCRF, the Defense CBRN Response Force saves lives, mitigates suffering and facilitates recovery operation In support of U.S. Northern Command’s Joint Task Force-Civil ...

  • Fort Hood: EOD technicians return from deployment to Central Command area of operations

    June 16, 2022

    FORT HOOD, Texas – Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians returned to Fort Hood, Texas, following a recent deployment in support of U.S. Army Special Forces detachments in the Central Command area of operations. The Fort Hood, Texas-based 752nd Ordnance Company (EOD) supported Special Operations Task Force-Levant with EOD technicians at outposts in Iraq and Syria. The 752nd EOD ...

  • Military-grade explosives found in a Colorado Springs neighborhood

    June 14, 2022

    A startling discovery in the trash Tuesday morning triggered an investigation in a residential neighborhood east of downtown Colorado Springs. “I was going to put some stuff in the garbage can and I moved the Walmart bag that was on top, and there was a grenade,” Floyd Clarke told 11 News. “I reached down and touched ...

  • Michigan Man Loses Both Arms After House Filled With Ammunition Explodes

    June 13, 2022

    A man’s arms were blown off by an explosion at a property that had allegedly been stuffed with an arsenal of guns, ammunition and bombs. The victim, who is in his 30s, was reportedly left in critical condition after the blast at around 3:10 p.m. in Warren, Michigan, on Saturday, June 11. The explosion ripped apart the ...

  • Kansas woman admits to training all-female IS battalion in Syria

    June 8, 2022

    A US woman has confessed to leading an all-female squadron for the so-called Islamic State group in Syria, as well as plotting attacks on American soil. Allison Fluke-Ekren pleaded guilty to one count of providing support to the group and admitted to training over 100 women and girls for violence. The mother and teacher-turned IS leader left ...

  • A legendary Army bomb tech who was paralyzed and learned to walk again has retired from the military

    June 8, 2022

    The most decorated soldier in an elite Army explosive ordnance disposal company retired last month after a legendary career that included defusing hundreds of bombs, saving the lives of countless service members, receiving the country’s second-highest award for valor, and nearly dying under fire at least twice. Sgt. 1st Class Jeffery Dawson, a member of the ...

  • 316th Civil Engineer Squadron EOD, DHS conduct interagency training

    June 2, 2022

    JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. – The 316th Civil Engineer Squadron’s explosive ordnance disposal team trained alongside Department of Homeland Security personnel at Joint Base Andrews, Md., June 1, 2022. The interagency training allowed DHS to go over the effects of various explosives and EOD equipment for future use. The event included multiple explosives demonstrations to show the ...

  • Michigan: Grand Rapids police dog who did bomb sweeps for rock stars, presidential candidates retires

    June 1, 2022

    The Grand Rapids police dog who did bomb sweeps for rock stars and presidential candidates has retired. The K-9 dog, Atos, who served with the Grand Rapids Police Department for eight years, retired last week, Grand Rapids police officials announced Wednesday. During his tenure, Atos and his partner, Grand Rapids police Sgt. Jeff Dionne, performed about 200 ...

  • New Jersey: Multiple homemade explosives found in 82-year-old man’s home

    May 31, 2022

    Police say one neighbor’s 911 call led to an arrest and seizure of numerous weapons at a home in Margate. On May 16, a resident on 36th Avenue told police an 82-year-old neighbor was caught shooting holes in their fence on surveillance footage. Police say Francis Beck, 82, fired two rounds from a CO2 powered handgun. He ...

  • Delaware: One In Custody At Newark Reserve Center, Bomb Squad On Scene

    May 25, 2022

    Officials are investigating a suspicious person at a building at the Joint Armed Forces Reserve Center on Ogletown Road in Newark. Sources tell FSU that police responded to the scene for reports of a man holding a rifle in the parking lot. Police have closed Ogletown Road between SR 72 and White Clay Center Drive. One suspect ...

  • North Carolina: Camp Lejeune warns people to stay off Browns Island

    May 25, 2022

    The Marine base has been having issues with the public trespassing on the island, a place that’s unsafe because of the possible explosives buried beneath the sand. “We can’t make any of these areas safe,” Capt. Will Mueller said. “There’s always something that’s hidden.” Mueller is an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician, which means he’s in charge ...

  • Audacious Warrior EOD exercise boosts joint service ties

    May 24, 2022

    FORT MCCOY, Wis. – Airmen, Marines and Soldiers from a range of units and career fields participated in an exercise focusing on explosive ordnance disposal at Fort McCoy and Volk Field May 15-25. The 115th Fighter Wing hosted Audacious Warrior, an EOD training exercise involving partners in supporting roles, including the 115th Fighter Wing Emergency Management ...

  • Washington: Explosive devices found in 2 Tacoma locations

    May 23, 2022

    Explosives technicians handled two unrelated calls in Tacoma Monday morning. Tacoma police said one incident involved fireworks that were made into an improvised explosive device. It was found in the Lincoln High School parking lot. In the other incident, a pipe bomb was found in a parking lot in the 1400 block of East 72nd. Read more… Source: KIRO7 ...

  • ATF NCETR hosted Lawrence B. Jones to explain their mission in fire research and safe explosives disposal process

    May 21, 2022

    ATF National Center for Explosives Training and Research (NCETR) hosted Lawrence B. Jones to explain their mission in fire research and safe explosives disposal process. The NCETR provides training and scientific research to prevent and investigate bombings, and post-blast training. https://twitter.com/ATFHQ/status/1529100605335142401 Read more… Source:  Fox News/U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives  

  • Pipe Bombs, Improvised Grenades Found With Weapons Stockpile At Maryland Home

    May 20, 2022

    A Somerset County resident faces numerous charges after improvised bombs and a stockpile of guns were found Friday at their Princess Anne home, Maryland State Police said. It took bomb technicians hours to render the devices safe and render the home clear of any other threat. The devices were defused without incident and no injuries were ...

  • Michigan: Meet Hans and Greta, the S.S. Badger’s new explosive detection K9s

    May 19, 2022

    They’re sweet, friendly, a little bit “ball crazy” – and trained to detect explosives. Hans and Greta are the newest additions to the K9 program for the S.S. Badger car ferry. The pups had their first workday last week when the ferry made its first trip of the year across Lake Michigan. The dogs spent about two ...

  • Joint service EOD techs join forces to destroy 12,000-pound missile cache

    May 19, 2022

    NEVADA TEST AND TRAINING RANGE, Nev. – U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians teamed up to destroy a 12,000-pound missile cache. EOD Soldiers from the Fort Irwin, California-based 759th Ordnance Company (EOD) and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri-based 763rd EOD Company worked with EOD Airmen from Nellis Air Force Base, ...

  • Special operators need counter-drone, counter-IED tech in a smaller package

    May 18, 2022

    U.S. special operations forces need a tool that can both jam radio frequencies to stop roadside bombs from exploding as well as neutralize drone threats by land, air and sea — and it has to be small. That’s what Special Operations Command officials said Tuesday at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference, hosted in Florida by ...

  • Hawaii: FBI seeks tips after improvised explosive device found on Oahu

    May 18, 2022

    The FBI is asking for tips about an improvised explosive device that was discovered on Oahu last month. The agency released a photo of the device Tuesday. They say the device was about 6 inches long and about 1 inch in diameter. It was discovered on April 26 near Ala Aolani Street and the Moanalua Freeway. Read more… Source: ...