Five drones were disabled and one person was arrested during a two-week binational security operation along the Tijuana-San Diego border, according to Mexico’s National Defense Secretariat.
Known as Operation Águila Alta, the operation ran from September 7 through 21 and focused on disrupting the use of commercial drones by criminal groups involved in drug and human trafficking.
Targeting the Use of Drones by Criminal Groups
Águila Alta was conducted as part of agreements reached through the Bilateral Implementation Group (BIG), with the stated goal of disrupting the use of commercial drones by criminal organizations involved in drug and human trafficking.
Rather than operating independently on each side of the border, participating authorities used information exchange and coordinated actions to respond to activity moving between Tijuana and San Diego.
The person arrested and the seized weapons and ammunition were handed over to the appropriate authorities, who will determine the individual’s legal status as the investigation continues.
Operation Ends With Binational Review
Once the two-week deployment concluded, the commander of Mexico’s Second Military Zone in Tijuana met with U.S. authorities to review the results and evaluate the coordination carried out during the operation.
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson highlighted the information-sharing component of the effort, saying that coordination, technology and joint operations can help authorities stay ahead of criminal organizations involved in trafficking.
The participating authorities said the operation also provided an opportunity to strengthen communication protocols and information-sharing mechanisms for future coordinated actions along the border.
