A last-minute report by Intelligence Online has revealed that drug cartels are training their members on the frontline of the war in Ukraine. More specifically, Mexican drone operators have joined the fight to improve their own piloting skills.

Mexican intelligence services have directly warned their Ukrainian counterparts. The Eastern European country is known to welcome foreign fighters. They can earn the equivalent of up to $3,000 a month.

Drug cartels fly drones over the US-Mexico border, mainly for surveillance. This makes the crossing safer for illegal drug smugglers. The final products are then delivered to North American consumers, while Europe relies mainly on transatlantic boat shipments.

Drug traffickers rely on drones for many purposes

Border surveillance isn’t the only purpose of the cartels’ air fleets. In fact, the US authorities are currently confronted with a number of different strategies involving drones. These include drug traffickers using them to deliver fentanyl or methamphetamine.

They also use UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) to guide migrants through the desert, after some have already crossed the terrifying Darién Gap. People smuggling then generates revenue that is reinvested in the global illegal drug trade. In addition, explosive drones can directly target border patrols.

Mexican cartels aren’t the only criminals using drones for illegal purposes. In fact, many reports have detailed how inmates are receiving drugs in prison thanks to aerial delivery. We have seen cases in many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and France.

Cocaine cartels team up with former enemies in Ukraine

The cartel’s presence is ironically paired with that of Colombia’s drug war veterans on the front lines. However, it is still difficult to determine whether both profiles have already joined forces on the field against Russia.

In the long term, the knowledge gained from the war in Ukraine could really benefit the cocaine cartels. And it wouldn’t be the first time they’ve gotten involved on the ground in Europe, with some chemists already flying to the French Riviera to master the production of stimulants.

Today, cocaine is often ranked as the second most commonly used illicit drug in the world. Users enjoy it for its energising and disinhibiting effects. But the production of the white powder often rhymes with the destruction of the rainforest in South America, which is vital to humanity.

Historically, radical right-wing leaders have ruled many major cities on the French Riviera. Along with mass surveillance and tourist attractions, the inhabitants also face there a new regulation. Indeed, the local public prosecutor just confirmed that convicted drug traffickers will be barred from accessing social welfare.

At first glance, this new measure seems like an effective way to deter potential criminals. Thus, the region could offer improved security to its residents, including many elderly people who crave peaceful surroundings. However, to our knowledge, no study has proven that this kind of measure could effectively slow the illegal drug trade.

Is it a counterproductive measure?

In 2000, a study of “women with drug convictions or pending felony drug charges” even worsened the potential effects of this counter-incentive :

92% of the women reported that even if they had known of the ban, it “would not have acted as a deterrent during active addiction.”

Moreover, reintegration after prison isn’t ideal in France. Authorities often release convicted criminals without ensuring they have a source of income or legal opportunity. But if they can’t access social aid, they may turn to illegal activities to make money.

Cannes’ mayor, David Lisnard, also shared his own view on the matter. He explained that receiving “assistance or social housing is a benefit granted by society“. Therefore, it is “unthinkable to accept that someone who harms society should continue to receive assistance from it“.

More recognition for drug sales

Furthermore, revenues from illegal drug sales will now “be added to official resources when calculating social entitlements,” according to Ici. This is a new step towards broader recognition of this market, although it is still highly controversial in Western Europe and abroad.

The EUDA, the Union’s drug agency, reported around 7,000 deadly overdoses on the continent in 2022. Cannabis and cocaine were the most popular products, while opioids continue to kill dozens of thousands of Americans every year.

Widespread repression and censorship policies greatly influence this fatal rate. However, prevention has already proven its benefits to public health, as opposed to the risks of maintaining an international taboo.

Do you agree with this change implemented by the French judicial system?

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A last-minute statement shared by the Reuters news agency suggests that Iran used drug traffickers to cause trouble in the European Union. The quote came from France’s interior minister, Bruno Retailleau. He is often ranked second or third among the country’s political leaders.

It’s important to note that Retailleau is a conservative with views often considered very close to far-right ideology. The official was also caught cheating during a game aired on national television.

Iran is currently under attack from Israel and the United States. The Middle Eastern country is known for its expanding nuclear research program, which may require foreign income from illicit businesses. Meanwhile, Iran still punishes drug trafficking with the death penalty.

Relying on illegal substances, a cognitive dissonance

Iran also punishes drug abuse particularly severely. Offenders risk several years behind bars. Alcohol, one of the most dangerous substances for health and society, alongside heroin or methamphetamine, is also illegal. This allows the black market to flourish in the country.

This situation highlights Iran’s ambivalent politics. The Islamic Republic is investing heavily in nuclear research despite having signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

If further analysis confirms Iran’s indirect involvement in drug trafficking, it wouldn’t be the only country funding its nuclear ambitions through crime. North Korea is also said to follow a similar plan, relying on money laundering.

Could Iran face new sanctions from the EU ?

The French masses are not surprised by Bruno Retailleau’s new revelations. In fact, France’s top cop is well-known for his strict stance on immigration, particularly targeting people of color and Muslims. His government is pushing to create a new maximum-security prison that defies human rights in French Guiana, where a large amount of cocaine transits.

Nevertheless, if Iran is funding narcotrafficking in the EU, it may face sanctions from its member states. France isn’t the only country addressing the matter with nationalism and repression. Alongside the Hexagon, countries like Hungary, Italy, and Austria also take similar approaches.

Iran already faces U.S. sanctions alongside notorious narcotraffickers, such as members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The Trump administration is fighting illegal drug production worldwide. This production is regularly beating growth records, including in Syria.

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