![Trump Deploys CIA Drones to Hunt Down Fentanyl Labs in Mexico [WATCH]](https://parlerpulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2024.11.08-11.43-rvmnews-672df971a4d14-Mb99yn.jpeg)
The Trump administration is ramping up efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking, deploying a covert drone program to identify and dismantle drug labs in Mexico, according to a report from The New York Times.
The program, which initially began under the Biden administration, has expanded significantly under President Donald Trump as part of his broader crackdown on cartel activity.
The covert surveillance operation utilizes CIA-operated drones to locate fentanyl production facilities.
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Intelligence gathered from these missions is shared with the Mexican government, allowing their authorities to conduct raids and disrupt drug manufacturing.
Officials familiar with the classified program, who spoke anonymously to The New York Times, confirmed that the Trump administration has intensified these efforts since returning to the White House.
In addition to CIA drones, Northern Command has carried out over two dozen surveillance flights along the U.S.-Mexico border, using various aircraft, including RC-135 Rivet Joints, U-2 spy planes, and P-8s.
A senior U.S. military official told The New York Times that the drones are strictly used for intelligence gathering and have not been authorized for lethal airstrikes.
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Instead, the aircraft provide critical data to Mexican authorities, helping them locate and dismantle fentanyl production sites.
The drone program has reportedly been effective, as fentanyl labs emit distinct chemical signatures that can be detected from the air.
While the CIA declined to comment on the operation, sources noted that intelligence collected from these flights has played a key role in recent cartel disruptions.
The expanded drone surveillance aligns with Trump’s broader strategy to combat cartel activity and drug trafficking.
On his first day back in office, Trump signed an executive order designating drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).
This classification grants U.S. authorities additional tools to combat cartels, including freezing financial assets, restricting their members from entering the U.S., and prosecuting them under terrorism-related statutes.
In February, Northern Command announced the creation of a specialized intelligence task force along the southern border.
The 140-member unit is assigned to analyze data collected from surveillance aircraft and other intelligence sources.
The task force’s role includes “full motion video analysis, counter network analysis, and Spanish language translation” to assist U.S. Border Patrol operations.
Trump’s policies have also pressured the Mexican government to take stronger action against cartels.
In early February, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to deploy 10,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in response to Trump’s threat of imposing 25% tariffs on all Mexican exports.
The troops have been tasked with curbing illegal immigration and disrupting drug smuggling operations, with a specific focus on fentanyl trafficking.
The move comes amid a worsening fentanyl crisis in the United States. According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, more than 21,000 pounds of fentanyl were seized at the southern border during the final year of the Biden-Harris administration.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) warns that a single kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill up to 500,000 people.
Mexican law enforcement has already made significant drug seizures following the national guard’s increased deployment.
Over the weekend, authorities confiscated 440 pounds of methamphetamine, valued at nearly $40 million, in Sinaloa Cartel-controlled territory.
Since February 5, Mexican forces have seized nearly five tons of meth, 453 kilos of cocaine, and 55 kilos of fentanyl.
As Trump’s administration continues its crackdown on cartel operations, the partnership between U.S. and Mexican forces is expected to intensify.
With fentanyl overdoses at record highs in the United States, the pressure is mounting for both governments to take aggressive action against the cartels fueling the crisis.
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