Drone activity linked to drug trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border has dropped by roughly 75% in the two weeks since the U.S. military began deploying a high-energy laser weapon system against the devices, according to military officials. The rapid decline marks one of the most visible early results yet from the Pentagon’s growing use of directed-energy weapons in domestic border security operations.
How the Laser System Works
The system, known as AMP-HEL, is operated by U.S. Northern Command and was first used operationally against cartel-linked drones on August 25 and 26, when troops stationed in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley took down three suspicious drones. Unlike traditional counter-drone tools, which typically jam a drone’s signal and force it back across the border, the laser is designed to disable — and in some cases destroy outright — the drone itself, permanently removing it as a tool cartels can reuse.
Defense technology experts describe the system as focused, high-intensity light directed at a precise point on the target, generating enough heat to disable or burn through it. Army officials overseeing the deployment have called the shift from jamming to permanent disabling a meaningful upgrade, noting that a drone that’s simply pushed back across the border can be relaunched, while one that’s destroyed cannot.
Why Cartels Use Drones at the Border
Officials say drug trafficking organizations rely on drones for more than just moving product across the border. Small quadcopter-style drones are frequently used for surveillance, allowing cartels to track the movement of U.S. service members and law enforcement so smugglers know which stretches of border to avoid. Military officials overseeing the response say disrupting that surveillance capability carries a real financial cost for cartel operations, since it undermines the routing decisions that keep smuggling operations running efficiently. Cartels have also increasingly used armed drones on the Mexican side of the border in conflicts with rival criminal groups, according to a recent assessment from a Department of Homeland Security-funded research center.
The Numbers Behind the Decline
Since the start of the year, American troops have intercepted roughly 300 drones believed to be linked to Mexican cartels along the border, with the laser system accounting for eleven of those over a ten-day stretch following its debut. Military officials have been careful to note that the roughly 75% drop in drone activity can’t be attributed to the laser system alone — cartels shifting to alternate smuggling routes may also be playing a role. Still, officials point out that the timing of the decline, closely following the laser’s deployment, suggests it’s having a meaningful deterrent effect.
Coordination Challenges Along the Way
The rollout hasn’t been without complications. Earlier testing of laser and other counter-drone technology near El Paso reportedly led to at least one incident in which a Customs and Border Protection drone was mistakenly targeted, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to temporarily close nearby airspace. Officials say coordination between military units and the FAA has since improved substantially, reducing the risk of similar incidents as the system’s use has expanded.
Part of a Broader Border Security Buildup
The laser deployment comes amid a broader military buildup along the southern border, which has included expanded troop deployments and a wider mix of surveillance and interdiction technology. Officials have noted that illegal border crossings have fallen to historically low levels over the same period, even as cartels have adapted by leaning more heavily on drone-based smuggling and surveillance methods rather than relying solely on ground routes.
More than 27,000 drones were reportedly detected within roughly 1,600 feet of the southern border over just a six-month period in recent years, underscoring how central drone technology has become to cartel operations — and why disrupting it has become a priority for U.S. border security efforts.
What This Means Going Forward
For now, officials are treating the 75% drop as an early, encouraging data point rather than a conclusive victory. A few open questions will shape how the story develops:
- Whether cartels adapt.Criminal organizations have historically adjusted quickly to new enforcement technology, and a rerouting of smuggling activity rather than a genuine reduction remains a real possibility.
- Expansion to other sectors.If the results hold, the system could see wider deployment beyond the Rio Grande Valley to other high-traffic sections of the border.
- Continued FAA coordination.Scaling up laser operations raises ongoing airspace-safety questions that will need to be managed as deployment grows.
- Broader use of directed-energy weapons.Defense analysts see this deployment as an early domestic test case for laser weapon systems that could see wider military application elsewhere.
For a broader look at how border security policy shifts affect regional trade and logistics, see our analysis of cross-border trade and supply chain trends on BusinessToMark.
Primary source: CBS News’ original reporting includes on-the-ground detail from military officials overseeing the laser system’s deployment.
This is a developing story. Figures may be updated as the military releases further data.
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