Chivis Martinez republished with permission by Small Wars Journal
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Note: I have written about my concern regarding the war weaponry amassed by CJNG, it was notable for many reason,s not the least of which no other cartel has these types of weapons. And the progression is rapid, recently the discovery of the first ManPad and now this IED Drone. December of 2015 and January of this year was the first time ISIS acquired/used an IED Drone, it appears that CJNG it keeping up with terrorists in that respect. Those unfamiliar with these weapons, go to youtube for videos.
Mexican Cartel Tactical Note #35: Weaponized Drone/UAV/UAS Seized in Valtierrilla, Guanajuato with Remote Detonation IED (‘Papa Bomba’) Payload
Robert J. Bunker and John P. Sullivan
An improvised explosive drone (‘dron bomba’) was interdicted by Mexican Federal Police/Policía Federal (PF) in Guanajunto in Central Mexico at daybreak of Friday, 20 October 2017. Four men were arrested following a ‘high-risk’ vehicle stop on the Salamanca-Morelia highway. The discovery of an improvised Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)—also known as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)—is the latest example of cartel weapons evolution. The IED is consistent with recent papas bombas (potato bombs) employment by the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). Guanajunto is currently contested by several cartels including the CJNG, Los Zetas, and the Sinaloa cartel.
Who:Four individuals (Public Ministry IDs: Christian N., Angel N., Eduardo, N., and Marcos, N.) were arrested by Mexican Federal Police/Policía Federal (PF) in a stolen vehicle in what would be equivalent to a ‘felony’ or ‘high-risk’ stop in the United States.
What:In the back of the stolen vehicle inside the hatchback/rear cargo area, a 3DR Solo Quadcopter in an open case with an IED (‘Papa Bomba’) attached to it with a sling rope and a remote RF detonator was seized. An AK-47 variant assault rifle, 2 magazines, 13 7.62mm bullets, 3 smart phones, 1 texting phone, and 3 black caps (1 with Guanajuato on it) were also recovered.
When: The stolen vehicle was pulled over at dawn by Federal Police on Friday 20 October 2017.
Where:Near the community of Valtierrilla, along the Salamanca-Moreila highway, in the state of Guanajuato which is about 304 km (189 miles) northwest of Mexico City via roadways.
Why:A weaponized drone/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)/unmanned aerial system (UAS) with a remotely detonated IED allows for a precision strike to take place against an intended target. This form of IED can be utilized against a point target for assassination purposes or against an area target—such as a grouping of individuals—for anti-personnel purposes. In addition to using such a drone/UAS for assassination or tactical action purposes, it also offers ‘narco terrorism’ and/or ‘narco insurgency’ potentials depending on the intent of its use.
Analysis: This significant incident represents the crossing of a Mexican cartel technology and TTP (tactic, technique, and procedure) use firebreak with drone/UAV/UAS ‘weaponization’ now taking place. It suggests additional cause for heighted concern related to the evolving Mexican cartel security environment. This weaponized drone seizure follows a human shield use incident taking place in Palmarito, Puebla in May 2017 linked to an armed criminal group and a recent national homicide report in September with 2,564 homicides taking place, putting this year on track to be the most deadly ever (21,200 so far) recorded in Mexico during its ongoing criminal insurgency]
The IED drone recovered is indicative of the fusion of two recent technology use trends taking place within cartel groups in Mexico. The first trend is the use of drones/UAS for primarily narcotics smuggling purposes. The cartels have been using drones since 2010, with possibly 150 UAS intrusions into the U.S. between 2012 and 2014 according to an unconfirmed Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) report. In addition to smuggling missions, the use of cartel drones for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) has also been noted. The second trend is the use of ‘papas bombas’ (potato bombs) also known as Papabombas or Bombas de impacto IEDs by organized crime groups, with the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) specifically identified as using them. These IEDs have been utilized by the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) with their use spreading to CJNG and possibly other groups in the states of Michoacán and Guanajuato in Central Mexico. These IEDs are composed of a sphere-like mass of explosives tightly taped together with the inclusion of nuts and nails for a shrapnel effect. The initial explosive mixture utilized in these devices was potassium chlorate, sulfur, and aluminum powder based. Their use or possession in Mexico has been identified in at least four cases since at least February 2017, two in La Piedad (with one detonation), one in Santiguito, and one near Cerrito de Ortiz, all in Michoacán.
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| IED (' Papa Bomba' ) Based on FARC Model Source: Andrés Becerril, "Narcos copy FARC bombs; Cisen alert for explosives type 'pope.'"Excelsior. 21 July 2017, http://www.excelsior.com.mx/nacional/2017/07/21/1176937#imagen-1 |
Conceptually, commercial drone IED weaponization is by no means new, and in fact, has become institutionalized by the Islamic State (IS) in its recent operations in Iraq and Syria. Such use is well known and has been identified in IS tactical actions taking place as early as December 2015 in Tishrin, Syria and June 2016 in Khan Touman, Syria. Such actions and later ones most certainly have contributed in some way via ‘TTP diffusion’ to the creation of the weaponized cartel drone recovered. Specific concerns expressed over such “Mexican cartel UAV evolutionary potentials” have been noted since August 2014 with “weapons payload use for small arms and IED attack capabilities” foreseen as one eventuality.
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Islamic State IED Drone in Manbij, Syria Source: @ SDF_Press_1. "Syrian Democratic Forces #SDF fell down #ISIL Military Drone." Twitter . 10 July 2016, https://twitter.com/ SDF_Press_1 / media? lang = en & lang = en [Archived] |
An image analysis of the IED drone recovered in Valtierrilla, Guanajuato suggests that it is a 3DR Solo Quadcopter. Such drones which first appeared in about 2015 can be presently purchased for less than $250.00 USD (less than 5,000 MXN) online. This drone has a flight time of about 20 minutes while carrying a payload of up to 420 g (0.926 pounds). It can achieve a top speed of 55 mph (89 km/h) with a range of about .5 miles (.8 km).
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| Front Source: @On_Point_Skillz, "Maybe @AbraxasSpa might look interesting." Twitter. 20 October 2017, https://twitter.com/On_Point_Skillz/status/921521786768056321 |
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| Rear |
3DR Solo Quadcopter with IED and Remote Detonation Switch (Side View)
Source: "Intercept dron pump!" WRITING. Am . 20 October 2017,
The above images of the recovered drone suggest that it is in operational condition. The IED (‘Papa Bomba’) payload is secured to the drone by means of a white rope slung underneath it. No evidence of metal fragmentation components can be seen on the surface of the IED, however, they may have been formed into an outer shell of the IED with additional binding and taping layers built up over them. Underneath the drone a remote control transmitter can be seen although the specific type is not identified—it may be either a 3DR AT10A or AT11A series unit. Two related rectangular components that are next to the drone are not identifiable—possibly they are the controller top piece and a 3DR battery module. Duct tape has been secured to the top of the drone to hold down an unidentified component that is not organic to it—this can be seen with the triangular-like protrusion on the top of the drone under the tape. Speculation exists that this may be the RF detonation receiver for the IED. Yellow electrical wires can also be seen to emanate from the IED. It is further speculated that these yellow wires would be connected to the top RF receiver unit by means of connecting them to RF receiver wires leading down to the underside of the drone. This connection would be made only during the pre-mission arming phase with the yellow wires wound around the white rope securing the IED to the drone. What is assumed to be a detonation control RF emitter unit with 4 toggle switches and a pullout radio antenna can also be seen in one of the images of the recovered IED drone.
Of further note is the imagery of three of the four men arrested in this incident. They all appear physically fit and manifest short military-like haircuts suggesting that they may have either military or law enforcement special operations backgrounds.
Guanajuato is presently plagued with the highest violence levels in the state’s history with the following cartels operating in it are “La Familia Michoacana” and/or “Caballeros Templarios”, “Cártel del Golfo”, “Zetas” and “Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG)”. Full scale narco warfare has essentially broken out in this state between competing cartel factions. The latter three cartels are known for actively recruiting cartel enforcers having military and paramilitary backgrounds with CJNG directly linked to recent ‘Papas Bombas’ IED-type use.
If the IED drone recovered was ultimately intended for use within the state of Guanajuato, in Morelia, Michoacán, or somewhere else in the state of Michoacán is unknown. What is known is this weaponized drone cost less than $300.00 USD (5,700.00 MXN) to procure—with IED construction costs factored in—and represents a significant escalation in the criminal insurgencies taking place in Mexico. The drone can be flown against its intended target with precision and a high rate of speed and remotely detonated for assassination, anti-personnel, and/or narcoterrorism purposes. It represents another terrorist TTP firebreak crossed in Mexico this year and is indicative of the spiraling levels of narco violence now engulfing wide regions of that sovereign nation.
Significance: Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación; CJNG links (Probable), Cartel Technology, Improvised Explosive Device (IED), Papas Bombas, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs), Weaponized Drone, Weaponized Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)
Click on any image to enlarge
