U.S. military expands ground operations against Latin American drug cartels

The United States is significantly expanding its military involvement in the fight against drug cartels in Latin America, shifting from providing intelligence and training to active ground operations. Under the direction of U.S. Southern Command, American military personnel are participating in raids alongside local authorities to target criminal organizations.

In Ecuador, approximately 50 U.S. military personnel and members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently joined hundreds of Ecuadorian police officers in raids against a network linked to Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). These operations resulted in over 30 detainees. In a separate incident in Manabí province, Ecuadorian troops working with U.S. Southern Command killed a gang leader and two security guards believed to be connected to the CJNG.

To bolster these efforts, the Pentagon is redirecting military technology, including MQ-9 Reaper drones previously assigned to Africa, to U.S. Southern Command to enhance surveillance and operational capabilities across South America, Central America, and the Caribbean.