Are the use of drones a security risk along southern border? You bet.
Information collected indicates Mexican drug cartels have sought out procure drones for use along the southern border. Homeland Security professionals are aware of cartels utilizing and investing in the development of drones for illicit purposes; conversely, what type of threat does this technology mean to overall border security.
Mexican cartels are always looking for more inventive, cost-effective ways to transport illicit goods across the border. In the past, they have used low-tech catapults, tunnels, ultralight aircraft, semi-submersible's, and even breast implants. With drones, “Cartels can ship drugs more quickly, and it cuts down the risk of being caught by radar. The organizations are becoming tech moguls in their own right by using funds to create drone programs themselves.” Drug Enforcement southern border. To date, every eight hours a border patrol agent is attacked. Drones bring another probable weapon to that fight.
While homeland security members are aware of drones being used as a way to transport illicit drugs and conduct ISR, what if terrorist organizations begin leveraging Cartel advancements? Imagine if others groups of interest or individuals capitalize on the cartel’s successes and use drones to support their own interests. As Col. Choudhary, one of the founders of modern Special Forces in India, went on record stating, “We have to think of the worst-case scenario, which is if such drones could pack five kilograms of explosives. If they do, you could well think of the extent of damage.” The supremacy of undetected small narco drones at the south border could ultimately be imitated by terrorists.
Information available indicates Mexican drug cartels are most likely in the early implementation phase of utilizing illicit drones along the southern border. As cartels successfully develop advanced custom-made drones new significant threats will most likely emerge. While cartel members will most likely use these assets strategically and tactically to carry out nefarious activity, what about others?
With the probable technological advancements being made, a significant security risk to the southern border and the law enforcement agents safeguarding it exists. Should we take an aggressive proactive stance now or wait until extremists exploiting drone usage for terrorist attacks and is it too late?
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For additional information check out the below links:
http://mic.com/articles/108964/mexico-s-drug-cartels-are-trading-tunnels-for-drones
http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2014/08/mexican-cartel-unmanned-aerial-vehicles.htmlhttp://time.com/3678745/drones-drugs-meth-mexico-cartel/
http://www.theamericaspostes.com/2338/narco-drones-puts-all-u-s-border-efforts-in-question/
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/28/us/white-house-drone.html?_r=0
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/450722/illegal-use-drones-major-scurity.html
