Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) has confirmed that 165 anti-drone units are currently deployed along the country’s northern border with the United States. The announcement highlights the military’s growing focus on aerial surveillance and counter-drone technology in the region.
These systems are designed to detect and neutralize unauthorized drone activity, a growing concern given the increasing use of unmanned aircraft by criminal organizations for smuggling drugs, weapons, and other contraband across the border. Drones have become a favored tool for cartels because they can fly over physical barriers and evade traditional ground surveillance.
While specific technical details about the anti-drone equipment were not disclosed, the deployment reflects Mexico’s broader strategy to modernize border security infrastructure amid persistent pressure from Washington to curb illegal trafficking and unauthorized crossings. The border region spans nearly 2,000 miles (about 3,200 kilometers) and has long posed logistical challenges for security forces on both sides.
The disclosure comes as bilateral security cooperation between Mexico and the US remains a sensitive and closely watched issue, with both governments under scrutiny over how effectively they’re addressing organized crime’s use of emerging technology.
For the full report in Spanish, read the original story at La Jornada.
Source: Hay 165 equipos antidrones en frontera con EU: Defensa (jornada.com.mx). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: The White House, PDM 1.0 (via Openverse).