Washington Post: Cartels Recruit Colombia Veterans With Drone War Experience

September 23, 2026 at 01:25 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Latin American drug cartels are recruiting Colombians with combat drone experience from the war in Ukraine, The Washington Post reported, citing U.S. and Mexican officials. Cartels are offering money or coercing returning veterans to adapt battlefield tactics for smuggling and attacks. The U.S. State Department said it is working with law enforcement and Ukraine to reduce the risk of skills transfer.

Key Facts

Mexican cartels are offering money to Colombians returning from Ukraine or coercing them into cooperation, according to five U.S. officials and one Mexican official cited by The Washington Post.
At least one cartel possesses drones with six to eight rotors capable of flying for hours and carrying up to 150 pounds (about 68 kg), a Mexican intelligence official said.
U.S. military laser systems destroyed 11 drones suspected of cartel links between August 24 and September 4, American military officials said.
The number of armed drone incidents in Colombia's internal conflict rose from 38 in 2024 to 149 in 2025, and exceeded 200 by early September 2026, according to ACLED data cited by the newspaper.
Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro estimated in May that 7,000 Colombians were fighting in Ukraine, calling them mercenaries and urging them to return home.

Cartel Recruitment Tactics

The Washington Post spoke with five U.S. officials and one Mexican official who described cartel efforts to recruit Colombians with drone combat experience from the Ukraine conflict. Mexican cartels offer money to returning Colombians or coerce them into cooperation, the officials said. One U.S. official claimed criminal groups also send their own people to the conflict zone under one-year contracts. Cartels are studying radio frequency changes and other methods to bypass electronic warfare systems, and are purchasing drones with longer flight times and greater explosive capacity.

Drone Capabilities and Procurement

A Mexican intelligence official said at least one cartel has drones with six to eight rotors that can fly for several hours and carry up to 150 pounds (about 68 kg). Another group sent representatives to China to acquire drones that can be equipped with small arms, the official said. Cartels already use drones to monitor security forces and scout smuggling routes across the U.S.-Mexico border, The Washington Post reported. U.S. military laser systems destroyed 11 drones suspected of cartel links between August 24 and September 4, American military officials said.

Regional Impact and Response

Former U.S. Northern Command chief Glen VanHerck said the main threat will emerge not at the border but against Mexican security forces and rival criminal groups. The number of armed drone incidents in Colombia's internal conflict rose from 38 in 2024 to 149 in 2025, and exceeded 200 by early September 2026, according to ACLED data cited by the newspaper. Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro estimated in May that 7,000 Colombians were fighting in Ukraine, calling them mercenaries and urging them to return home. The U.S. State Department said it is working with American law enforcement and Ukrainian authorities to reduce the risk of battlefield skills transfer.