CIA expanding drone spying program on Mexican cartels to find fentanyl labs [Video]

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The CIA is expanding a covert program using drones to spy on drug cartels in Mexico.

The program is designed to hunt down fentanyl labs and reduce the influx of illegal drugs coming across the southern border.

Though the public is just learning about this drone program now, it began under the Biden Administration.

Right now, President Donald Trump is reportedly ramping it up to crack down on drug smuggling at the border.

Recently, the Mexican government deployed 10,000 troops to battle the drug trade as part of a deal that paused U.S. tariffs on Mexican goods.

Mike Canada, a drone expert at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, said though cartels could get word of the operation, they likely won’t know when they are being watched.

“A ScanEagle (drone), for instance, is 55 lbs. If you fly that aircraft at 5 or 6,000 feet, you’re not going to be able to detect it,” he said.

The drones the CIA will …