The militants of the Jalisco New Generation drug cartel (CJNG) have been trained in Ukraine to operate UAVs in combat conditions. This is reported by the Mexican newspaper Milenio, citing law enforcement sources in the state of Jalisco.
CJNG members in Ukraine have mastered modern warfare techniques, including the use of drones for precision strikes, the newspaper writes. According to it, the training took place in an active conflict zone, and the militants gained first-hand experience of real combat operations. It is noted that their movement in pairs, the use of shelters, the handling of weapons and retreat tactics reflect the skills characteristic of intense combat.
The CJNG is already using drones in clashes with rival cartels and government forces, and it is using them to launch airstrikes in remote areas. The group forms combat special forces, in which at least ten people, each of them is capable of simultaneously controlling two UAVs with explosives.
CJNG uses drones of civilian models, the newspaper writes. It mentions, in particular, the DJI Matrice 300 RTK, which was used in Ukraine to drop anti-tank grenades, as one of the drones adapted by the cartel for combat operations.