How Long Before Criminals Start Attacking Cops With Drones? | Crime in America.Net

Overview

This article can be accessed as a YouTube podcast.

Emerging threats – Anticipate the use of weaponized drones in U.S. criminal or cartel activities, particularly in border state regions or urban locales.

Preparedness concerns – Numerous law enforcement agencies are unequipped with counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems resources and legal authority to take action, further complicated by federal and state limitations.

Technological advancements needed – To ensure officer safety, it’s crucial to implement improved detection methods, jamming techniques, counter-drone drones, and reevaluate existing policies.

Former advisor for presidential and gubernatorial campaigns. Former participant in the “McGruff-Take a Bite Out of Crime” national media initiative. Developer of successful state anti-crime media projects.

With over thirty-five years of directing award-winning public relations campaigns for national and state criminal justice agencies, I have been interviewed countless times by leading national media, focusing primarily on crime statistics and research. I pioneered the first state and federal podcasting series and established a distinctive, proactive approach to government public relations.

Graduate of The Johns Hopkins University, holding a Certificate of Advanced Study.

Authored the book “Success With The Media: Everything You Need To Survive Reporters and Your Organization,” available on Amazon and at various bookstores.

Crime in America.Net – “Your Source for Trustworthy Crime Data.”

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For an in-depth review of crime trends over recent years, visit Violent and Property Crime Rates In The U.S. 

Important Note

As this article goes to press, tragic incidents include the recent ambush resulting in the deaths of two firefighters responding to an arson brush fire in Idaho, alongside the assassination of a state legislator and her spouse in Minnesota.

In-depth Analysis

Years ago, I served as a senior security consultant for the U.S. Congress, with a top-secret security clearance before returning to media relations within a federal criminal justice agency.

The major focus of our concerns? Drones. This was long before unmanned aircraft became a part of everyday life. Accessing rooftops in Washington, D.C. could easily enable drone flights with payloads in mere seconds.

The emergence of weaponized drones is increasingly evident, with the conflict in Ukraine highlighting this alarming trend.

The Drone Crisis in Latin America

In March 2025, a Colombian soldier was killed by a drone attack  from the National Liberation Army (ELN), amidst rising violence resulting in over 80 casualties and displacing thousands. Just the previous month, a Mexican general survived a drone strike targeting his convoy in Chihuahua, Mexico.

In September 2024, a drone loaded with explosives targeted Ecuador’s maximum-security prison, La Roca, severely damaging the facility in an apparent attempt to facilitate a prison break. Subsequently, during the November 2024 APEC leaders’ summit in Lima, Peru, authorities neutralized 35 potential drone threats.

If these incidents are occurring in Central and South America, similar occurrences in the U.S. are inevitable. The pressing question remains: are we prepared?

Law Enforcement’s Response

ABC News reports that Mexican police in Chiapas have introduced armed drones to tackle the challenges posed by powerful drug cartels in their region.

Implications for the U.S.

The era in which Americans were astonished by criminals wielding sophisticated weaponry has come to an end. Law enforcement agencies have been compelled to adapt their equipment and training.

In our current climate of frequent mass shootings, police officers are expected to be prepared for immediate confrontation. Unfortunately, often, perpetrators are more heavily armed than the officers responding to the situation.

With criminals potentially deploying weaponized drones, the questions arise: When will police start arming officers with tools to counter these threats? When will violent actors utilize drones to target officers in critical situations?

This is not merely speculative; it is an impending reality. International developments affirm that these threats are not abstract—they are real and emergent.

Domestic and International Criminal Use of Drones

Mexico – Jalisco Cartel: Drone Bomb Injures Police

Forbes: In April 2021, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel executed a drone attack against Mexican federal police, injuring two officers and establishing precedents for organized crime utilizing drones.

U.S.–Mexico border – Cartels Plan Drone Kamikaze Attacks

NY Post: An internal memo from February 2025 revealed plans by Mexican drug cartels to deploy explosive-laden kamikaze drones against U.S. Border Patrol and military personnel, posing a significant threat to law enforcement.

Myanmar – Drone Bombing Kills Police Officers

Associated Press: In 2023, a group in Myanmar used drones to bomb a police headquarters, leading to multiple officer casualties, including several high-ranking officials. 

Ireland – Pipe Bomb-Carrying Drone Targets Police

The Times UK: In May 2025, a drone carrying a pipe bomb crashed in Finglas, Dublin, marking a worrying trend of weaponized drone usage targeting law enforcement. 

U.S. – FBI Raid Disrupted By Drone Surveillance

DefenseOne: In 2018, gang members employed drones to live-stream and monitor an ongoing FBI operation, complicating law enforcement activities significantly. 

Latin America – Smuggling and ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance)

DefenseOne: Criminal organizations across Latin America are using drones to surveil police movements, identifying vulnerabilities in borders for illicit activities. 

White Supremacist Drone Plot Targeting Energy Infrastructure

InsightCrime: In November 2024, a Tennessee resident was apprehended for plotting to use an explosives-laden drone to attack a local electrical substation. 

Extremist Attack Plot with Drone Surveillance

US Sun: In May 2025, an ex-National Guardsman was arrested after using a drone for reconnaissance in preparation for an ISIS-inspired attack at a military base in Michigan. 

Felon Operating Drone Near Interstate During Weapon Arrests

CT Insider: In April 2025, Connecticut police intervened as a drone hovered near an interstate, leading to the arrest of an armed felon operating it. 

The Significance of These Trends

Increasing capabilities: The transition from surveillance and contraband delivery to attacks utilizing explosive payloads signifies a major evolution in criminal tactics.

Law enforcement vulnerabilities: Police forces—both nationally and internationally—are being strategically targeted.

Real-world examples: The situations described are presently unfolding and hold significant implications for future law enforcement responses.

Consider the potential ramifications if a maximum-security facility were attacked by drones, leading to mass breaches. Such an event would necessitate overwhelming police responses and would catch most prison systems unaware of the external threats posed by drones.

The Future of U.S. Policing

Projected threats – Anticipation of weaponized drone usage in U.S. crime and cartel activities, particularly in border and metropolitan environments.

Preparedness issues – Existing police departments struggle with the lack of counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems gear and legal authority to counter such threats, exacerbated by federal-state legal complexities.

Technological advancements required – The current landscape calls for improved detection systems, jamming methods, operational counter-drone drones, and comprehensive policy updates to safeguard officers.