In recent years, commercially available drones have transformed capabilities once largely associated with advanced militaries into accessible tools reshaping security dynamics across Latin America. Lower costs, rapid technological diffusion, and growing weaponization of commercial drones by non-state actors have turned these platforms into an increasingly important factor in regional security and defense.
According to the Florida International University (FIU) and U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) two-parts report, Contested Skies, drones have become tools used by both governments and criminal organizations. The report warns that commercial drones are revolutionizing illicit activities, enabling activities ranging from surveillance and drug trafficking to explosive attacks. “These technologies, along with cryptocurrencies, are facilitating more sophisticated operations that are difficult to track,” the report notes.
Across the region, armed forces have incorporated drones into intelligence, surveillance, border security, and counternarcotics missions. At the same time, civilian sectors such as agriculture and logistics are experiencing rapid growth in drone use, highlighting the versatility of the technology. However, the growing use of drones by criminal organizations is raising concern among security officials and analysts. According to the FIU report, low-cost technologies such as drones have transformed the tactics of cartels and criminal groups over the past decade, reducing operational barriers and challenging state control over airspace and financial systems.
Analysts warn that groups such as Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Brazil’s First Capital Command (PCC), and other criminal organizations are increasingly incorporating these dual-use technologies into their operations.
“In the Andean region, major criminal organizations are already using drones for offensive purposes,” Jean Paul Pinto, an Ecuadorian expert in international security, told Diálogo. “FARC dissidents in Colombia, for example, use them against conventional forces, as does the Clan del Golfo. In Ecuador, groups such as Los Lobos and Los Choneros have carried out drone attacks on maximum-security prisons.”
One of the most recent and deadly examples occurred in April 2026, when a drone attack attributed to the Colombian armed group Comandos de la Frontera killed three soldiers and injured two others near the Ecuadorian border, AP reported. Colombian authorities say armed groups and criminal organizations increasingly rely on commercial drones modified to carry explosives in attacks against security forces and rival groups.
The growing use of weaponized drones has become a major security concern in Colombia. According to Anadolu Agency, Colombian authorities reported more than 8,000 drone-based attacks in 2025 carried out by guerrilla and criminal groups, reflecting a major tactical shift in the country’s internal conflict. Colombian officials say groups such as the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) have increasingly adapted commercially available drones to carry improvised explosive devices. Security analysts note that Colombia has emerged as one of the region’s leading laboratories for criminal groups increasingly employing commercially available systems modified to deliver explosives, conduct reconnaissance, and support territorial control efforts.
Ecuador has also experienced incidents involving drones and organized crime, particularly within the prison system. Ecuadorian media reported in March 2026 that police intercepted a drone carrying explosives that was headed toward the El Oro No. 1 Detention Center in Machala. The incident followed other prison-related drone cases in recent years, including a 2023 episode at La Roca Prison in Guayaquil, where authorities neutralized a drone carrying explosives before it reached the facility.
Miguel Navarro, a Chilean international analyst, told Diálogo that the accessibility of this technology presents a growing challenge for public safety. “Drone technology is within reach of practically anyone, which facilitates its widespread use, including for criminal purposes.”
In this context, experts agree that international cooperation is essential to address the threat. Pinto argues that countries must work together to develop affordable counter-drone technologies and improve regulatory coordination. “What is happening between the United Kingdom and Ukraine is a clear example: While the British train the Ukrainians, they also learn from their practical experience in using drones for surveillance and attack,” he said.
Regulation and cooperation: Adapting to the drone threat
Governments across Latin America are increasingly shifting from traditional drone regulation toward operational counter-drone strategies as armed groups and criminal organizations expand their use of unmanned systems.
Colombia has become one of the clearest examples of this transition. Following a sharp rise in attacks involving commercial drones modified to carry explosives, the Colombian government announced in January 2026 a $1.68 billion national anti-drone initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to detect, track, and neutralize unmanned aerial threats. The project includes the acquisition of counter-drone systems, expanded protection for military units operating in conflict zones, and the creation of specialized operational capabilities focused on drone warfare.
The Colombian government has also tightened restrictions on drone imports as security forces confront increasingly sophisticated attacks carried out with commercially available technology. Analysts warn that armed groups are adapting rapidly, incorporating tactics observed in conflicts such as Ukraine into Colombia’s internal security environment.
Ecuador has also strengthened its response to the growing criminal use of drones as part of the government’s broader campaign against transnational organized crime. Ecuadorian authorities have expanded military and police operations around prisons and strategic infrastructure following multiple incidents involving drones used to transport contraband or explosives. Security officials increasingly view unmanned systems as part of the operational toolkit of criminal organizations such as Los Lobos and Los Choneros, particularly within the country’s prison system. Experts say the rapid spread of low-cost drone technology is forcing countries across the region to rethink traditional security models. In addition to updating aviation regulations, governments are increasingly investing in counter-UAS systems, electronic warfare capabilities, airspace monitoring, and specialized training designed to confront threats that are evolving faster than conventional security structures.
In Chile, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) has warned about the risks associated with this technology and established strategic partnerships with organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.
“We exchange standards, technical criteria, and lessons learned with these entities to monitor emerging trends, advance regulatory harmonization, and share technical and operational information, especially regarding incidents and risks,” the DGAC told Diálogo.
Argentina has also taken steps to modernize its drone regulations. The country’s National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) approved a new regulatory framework aimed at integrating the civil, commercial, and scientific use of drones into the national aviation system more safely and efficiently while aligning with international standards.
The rapid expansion of drones across the region presents major challenges for governments and security forces, but it also creates opportunities to strengthen surveillance and operational capabilities in urban and rural environments. “These tools could be very useful for surveillance operations without the need to deploy large human contingents,” Pinto says. “However, success lies in the ability of countries to adapt to this dynamic threat and maintain effective regulation.”
Drone technology has become a double-edged sword in Latin America. While its civilian and commercial potential continues to expand, its growing use by criminal and armed groups has exposed vulnerabilities in regional security. In this environment, international cooperation, the development of counter-drone capabilities, and updated regulatory frameworks are increasingly important to confront a threat that is rapidly redefining security dynamics across the hemisphere.
