U.S. Drone Flight In Mexico Reportedly Part Of Operation Against La Nueva Familia Michoacana Cartel

A recent drone operation conducted by the U.S. deep inside Mexico was reportedly aimed at monitoring territory controlled by La Nueva Familia Michoacana cartel as authorities from both countries seek to apprehend their leaders.

Journalist Jose Luis Montenegro, who specializes in cartels, said in an interview that such operations have been conducted in the past to ultimately capture “Chapitos” leader Ovidio Guzman Lopez.

The operation was focused on cartel leaders Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga, known as “El Fresa,” and Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga, known as “El Pez.” They were indicted in April and stand accused of orchestrating the movement of large volumes of narcotics across the U.S.-Mexico border, including into the Atlanta area.

Alongside the indictments, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against the Hurtado brothers and two additional siblings, Ubaldo and Adita Hurtado Olascoaga.

OFAC detailed that Ubaldo serves as a senior LNFM leader involved in extortion, narcotics trafficking, and overseeing hitmen, while Adita laundered cartel proceeds through U.S.-based used clothing stores and facilitated arms trafficking.

The LNFM cartel has been linked to the trafficking of more than 36 metric tons of methamphetamine, 12 metric tons of heroin, and 12 metric tons of cocaine annually. Beyond drug trafficking, LNFM is also accused of human smuggling, using drones to drop explosives on rivals, and terrorizing Mexican communities through kidnappings and extortion.

The Department of State has announced rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga and up to $3 million for Jose Alfredo. The multi-agency investigation, which began in 2021, falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative launched in March by the Trump Administration to dismantle transnational criminal organizations and prosecute undocumented individuals engaged in drug trafficking.

Mexican Public Safety Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch confirmed the operation, saying the drone’s presence was requested by the Claudia Sheinbaum administration.

“They are drones or UAVs that fly at the specific request of Mexican government institutions in support of investigations we are conducting in our country,” the official said. He added that “no aircraft, no military airplane flies in our country” without authorities’ consent.