Mexican authorities announced Friday the discovery and seizure of 24 surveillance cameras installed by drug cartels in the border city of San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, directly across from Yuma, Arizona.
The cameras, found attached to telephone poles, light posts, and even palm trees in three different neighborhoods, were reportedly placed by cartel lookouts, known locally as “falcons,” to monitor the movements of law enforcement and military personnel.
Prosecutors in Sonora state said army troops removed the devices, which appeared to be common porch-style cameras wrapped in duct tape, based on photos released by authorities.
San Luis Rio Colorado, primarily known to Americans as a destination for affordable prescriptions and dental work, has increasingly become a hotspot for drug cartel violence. The city has suffered years of conflict between rival cartels vying for control of the lucrative border crossing, a key route for drug smuggling into the United States.
This is not the first instance of cartels establishing surveillance networks in Mexican border cities. In 2015, authorities uncovered a similar operation in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, across from McAllen, Texas, where at least 39 cameras were used to monitor law enforcement activities.
“These surveillance systems pose a significant threat to our operations and the safety of our personnel,” said a spokesperson for the Sonora state prosecutor’s office, who requested anonymity due to security concerns. “We are committed to dismantling these networks and bringing those responsible to justice.”
associated press
