Some foreign nationals serving on the frontlines of Ukraine are allegedly taking drone warfare tactics they learn back home to assist cartels.
Ukrainian counterintelligence began investigating the infiltration of cartel members into the country’s International Legion this summer, but it’s been thrust back into the spotlight after the murder of drug lord El Mencho.
Armed with semi-automatic rifles, tactical gear and even tanks, images of cartel members in Mexico after the kingpin’s death led many to question just how these criminal organisations became so well-armed.
But in addition to the military-grade weapons obtained by cartels through illegal weapons trade, members are also venturing into drone warfare.
Some cartels have turned to drones to help strike rival compounds, and even dropped grenades on other drug strongholds in the country.
And to get ahead of their rivals, some of the criminal organisations are sending members to infiltrate the Ukrainian International legion to get first-hand experience with the technology.
Ukraine-American journalist David Kirichenko told Metro he first learned about the connections to the Mexican cartels while on the frontline.
‘I spent time with soldiers there and maintain contact with many of them to this day,’ he said.
The reasons behind why soldiers from Mexico and Colombia ventured more than 6,000 miles to Ukraine vary, however.
‘Some were quite candid about coming to Ukraine for the money,’ David said.
‘Others said it was a mixture of the mission and the difficulty of being a retired soldier who wanted to continue that line of work.
‘But some of those soldiers mentioned that upon returning to their countries, there was significant interest from various cartels looking to utilise their skill sets in modern warfare.’
The Ukrainian International Legion does have intense vetting processes before foreign nationals are able to join the force on the frontline.
Even with these procedures, David said he believes many of these individuals were approved to join the group by planning to work for the cartel after they leave the war, not before.
‘There is likely a small fraction of people with sketchy backgrounds,’ he explained.
‘If you think about the logistics of moving from Latin America to Ukraine, there is only so much vetting you can do. Criminal organisations can forge identities and documents or bribe officials to provide clean records.’
Ukraine’s domestic security is working to get ahead of potential criminals joining the fight against Russia, who may only do so for military training.
But David points out: ‘It only takes one talented, experienced drone operator to go back and teach many others.’
Metro has contacted the International Legion for comment.
How are cartels using drone technology?
The use of drones in Latin America provides an opportunity for cartels to gather intelligence on their rivals, government officials and local populations to ensure the safety of their operations.
In their fight to control the drug industry, cartels are turning to more modern weaponry, including drones and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
If even one highly-trained drone operator returns to their home country after serving in Ukraine and teaches others, it could open a Pandora’s Box of future weaponry in the bloody cartel wars.
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime points out: ‘In the air, drones offer a natural fit for smuggling low-weight, high-profit commodities such as drugs and tobacco.
‘Land drones provide larger payloads and could also be repurposed as offensive tools if weaponised, as has already been observed in Ukraine.
‘Sea drones, while expensive, can carry heavy payloads over long distances, making them potentially attractive for drug traffickers moving shipments regionally or for arms traffickers transporting bulk consignments discreetly.’
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