The U.S. military is expanding its role in targeting drug trafficking networks across Latin America and the Caribbean, using advanced drones to monitor smuggling routes and deploying American personnel in raids conducted in cooperation with local security agencies, according to reports.
Drones Used to Map Drug Trafficking Networks
The Pentagon is using sophisticated drones to track drug trafficking networks and map their routes as part of an effort to expand the tools available to combat drug cartels in the region.
U.S. Southern Command chief General Francis Donovan said the Pentagon was considering all available options, including conducting ground operations against trafficking networks.
Such operations could involve arrests, raids on locations used by criminal groups, and the deployment of specialized equipment to inspect shipments at border checkpoints, with the aim of increasing pressure on drug trafficking networks.
U.S. Personnel Take Part in Raids in Ecuador
Around 50 U.S. military personnel and law enforcement officials joined Ecuadorian police in raids last week targeting a suspected cocaine trafficking network linked to a Mexican cartel, according to American and Ecuadorian officials.
The raids were conducted in the early hours of the morning. Ecuadorian officials said it was the first time U.S. forces had directly participated in police raids inside the country.
The operations involved advanced American equipment, including drones and electronic warfare systems, to support the forces taking part in the raids.
Washington Seeks to Expand the Model Across the Region
The developments indicate that the United States is seeking to extend this model of security cooperation to other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, while increasing its reliance on technology and drones to track drug trafficking networks.
The move comes as Washington considers expanding the role of its military and security agencies in field operations conducted in cooperation with local authorities across the region.
