US Spy Flights Surge Over Mexico Amid Cartel Tensions

Mexico — U.S. military drone patrols have not ceased in the vicinity of the Yucatán Peninsula and other Mexican states such as Jalisco and the Gulf of California, with tensions growing following threats from the government of Donald Trump to attack Mexican cartels by land.

In various zones of the country, overflights by drones from the United States intelligence apparatus have been reported, following a pattern similar to that carried out days prior to the capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.

The U.S. Navy’s high-altitude MQ-4C Triton drone, with the call sign BLKCAT5, returned to Naval Station Mayport in Florida after conducting a patrol mission over the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, as reported two days ago.

Meanwhile, another intelligence aircraft, an ISR Diamond DA62 MPP belonging to the United States Air Force, was detected near Talpa de Allende, Jalisco, an area noted for the presence of camps of the CJNG (Jalisco New Generation Cartel) and a possible hideout for Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes. After patrolling the area, it turned off its transponder, a common practice in military surveillance missions.

Furthermore, in recent weeks (late December and early January 2026), more than 18 missions were recorded in U.S. and international airspace (Gulf of California, Baja California), according to open data and Pentagon sources.

The context is significant: these overflights occur after Donald Trump publicly reiterated his willingness to attack cartels even by land, citing what he considers inaction and tolerance by the Mexican government toward organized crime.

While Washington increases aerial reconnaissance and tactical mapping operations, the Mexican government remains trapped in the discourse of “sovereignty,” unable—or unwilling—to dismantle criminal structures that already operate as territorial powers.

The question is no longer whether the U.S. is observing… The question is why it has to do so. Civil reconnaissance? Intelligence exchange? Preparation for a surgical strike? With an overwhelmed state, others begin to do the work.

The U.S. Navy’s high-altitude MQ-4C Triton drone, call sign BLKCAT5, returns to Naval Station Mayport in Florida after conducting a patrol mission over the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula.

The flight occurs days after President Donald Trump stated that ground attacks against cartels in Mexico would begin soon, raising attention on ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) movements in the region. The Triton is one of the most advanced maritime and land surveillance platforms of the U.S., capable of operating at high altitude for more than 24 hours.

U.S. Military Aircraft Overflies Jalisco

Another U.S. spy plane, the Diamond DA62 MPP, was detected conducting espionage (ISR) work over Talpa de Allende, Jalisco, an area linked to alleged camps of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and where the cartel’s leader is believed to possibly be hiding. After patrolling the area, the aircraft turned off its tracker and disappeared from radar.

Alert on the Border: U.S. Spy and Reconnaissance Aircraft Intensify Flights Near the Border with Mexico

In recent weeks (late December and early January 2026), more than 18 missions were recorded in U.S. and international airspace (Gulf of California, Baja California), according to open data and Pentagon sources. These are not combat fighter jets, but advanced platforms to collect intelligence on drug cartels, amid Trump’s policy of “securing the border” and combating drug trafficking.