In recent years, groups of racketeering have expanded their war arsenal, equipping themselves with rocket launchers, grenade launchers, drones and other devices. This increase in firepower is intended to dispute territories, confront rival groups and combat the security forces. In addition, these weapons have been used against the civilian population and self-defense groups.
In the country, the Secretary of National Defense (Sedena) secured 126 rocket launchers and 582 grenade launchers between 2010 to July 2024, according to data obtained via Transparency held by N+. To these are added 29 rocket launchers seized by the Secretary of the Navy between 2010 and 2019, while in recent years the agency reported that it did not find information in its records. While the National guard (GN) apologized in the same way and did not have information in this regard.
Have this type of armament shows the can of fuego real that organized crime has, points out Juan Manuel Aguilarsecurity specialist and researcher at the North American Research Center (Cisan) of the UNAM.
“In the case of Mexico, this first came to light when the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) shot down a helicopter in an operation that was supposedly to capture El Mencho, in 2015,” recalls Aguilar. At that time, he says, “there was already talk about this potential that many criminal groups have that have better weapons than the Armed Forces themselves.”
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Jalisco is the second entity with the most insurances of rocket launchers, with a total of 16, only behind Tamaulipas, which tops the list with 47 artifacts. They follow him Sinaloa and Michoacán, with 13 rocket launchers each. Other entities where they have also been seized include Baja California, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Sonora, Veracruz and Zacatecas.
Regarding the seizure of the grenade launcher in Tamaulipas, it is at the peak with 263; in Coahuila there were 95, Sinaloa, with 46; Nuevo León, with 35, Jalisco with 28 and Michoacán, with 37.
Drones for surveillance and launching explosives
Los drones have been used in recent years also as a improvised weapon to detonate explosivesthe same as for surveillance.
Carmen Sanchez Moraa security analyst, explains that organized crime has the advantage that it is pragmatic and adapts to current contexts so that its operations are more functional.
Precisely with more technological war material. Drones are widely used for surveillance. Let us remember that some of the areas where organized crime groups are located are strategic areas and far from cities.
“They are already using biometrics to recognize people through drones. It is a bit of the most advanced technology that they are acquiring little by little of these devices,” he adds.
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Eduardo Ordónez, independent consultant in political risk and national security, explains that the armed groupss from Mexico are one of the pioneers in mounting explosive devices on drones and detonate them against the authorities and communities, as has happened especially in Michoacán.
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However, they are not the only ones. “There have been drone explosions in Chiapas and Guerrero. They have not done it in Sinaloa despite the level of violence, but they have mobilized them in those rural areas,” he says.
Between 2019 and July 2024 the Sedena has secured 39 drones. The majority were registered in Michoacán, with 20, followed by Guanajuato, with 5. The rest have been in Baja California, Tamaulipas, Chiapas, Quintana Roo among other entities.
Although the risks in the use of drones by the crime could increase in the future, says Sánchez Mora: “In the very near future they will begin to acquire these drones that are used as autonomous weapons, which basically work with artificial intelligence: they automatically drive themselves, they do not need any human activity for them to operate. “they can be functional.”
To this he adds that “they can recognize the context and can advance along the route and carry out video surveillance without them having to invest more human resources, so that they are dedicated solely to confrontations or the operation.”
Ordónez emphasizes that not only are these types of weapons used by armed groups, but their arsenal includes armored monster vehicles.
“They are also using antipersonnel mines to destroy the vehicles of the Army. This is seen in the Middle East, in Iraq, Afghanistan and Colombia, which have an open armed conflict. Then comes another level, the RPGs, there are the 50mm calibers. That is not civilian weapons, it is exclusive to the army. “You only see that in Mexico,” he laments.
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