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US Drones Quietly Spy on Mexico Drug Lords

Flights kept hush-hush because they're probably illegal

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 16, 2011 7:48 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Obama administration has begun sending high-altitude spy drones deep into Mexican territory to keep an eye on the movements of drug traffickers, the New York Times reports. The information is intended to be shared with Mexican law enforcement, and Felipe Calderón formally agreed to the flights in his March 3 meeting with President Obama, but they’ve been kept secret because of legal and political considerations in Mexico.

Mexico’s constitution forbids foreign militaries to operate within its territory except in extremely limited situations, so it’s possible the flights are illegal. Calderón also worries that the public might view them as encroaching on Mexican sovereignty. But the Global Hawk drones the Pentagon is using fly too high to be seen from the ground, and the flights have already proved useful, helping Mexican authorities track down several suspects in the death of American ICE agent Jaime Zapata.

A Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft is pictured on July 22, 2010. (Getty Images)

In this Nov. 3, 2006, file photo provided by the US Air Force shows an RQ-4 Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) landing at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. (AP Photo/US Air Force, John Schwab, File)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 26 comments

JoeQ

Mar 16, 2011 2:15 PM CDT

It is up to Mexico if they accept our military presence or not. What bothers me is using the military at all in the drug war. The military are not cops.

finkster

Mar 16, 2011 11:50 AM CDT

"Calderón also worries that the public might view them as encroaching on Mexican sovereignty." That statement is ironic since their citizens have been illegally encroaching on America's sovereignty for years.

Colonel_Sanders

Mar 16, 2011 10:12 AM CDT

Obama has selected his picks for the NCAA tournament! There are 20 million illegal aliens in our country Libya is a blood bath Japan's tragedy is only just beginning. Our government spending is wildly destructive.

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Barack Obama • Pentagon • Mexico • Felipe Calderon • Mexican drug war • UAVs • spy drones • Obama administration • Felipe Calderón • President Obama • Mexican drug cartel • Mexican drug gangs • US-Mexico border • Mexico drug cartels • Global Hawk drone

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US Drones Quietly Spy on Mexico Drug Lords

Flights kept hush-hush because they're probably illegal

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • Pentagon • Mexico • Felipe Calderon • Mexican drug war • UAVs • spy drones • Obama administration • Felipe Calderón • President Obama • Mexican drug cartel • Mexican drug gangs • US-Mexico border • Mexico drug cartels • Global Hawk drone

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Seventeen have been arrested in connection

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Rival drug gangs probably contributed to violence

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Country sees increasing torture, beheadings, violence against women

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