In recent years, the United States has intensified its efforts to combat drug cartels and related transnational threats in Latin America, blending intelligence gathering, special operations support, and partnerships with local forces. While much of this activity occurs in the “gray zone” below outright war, it draws on decades of experience from counterinsurgency campaigns. These operations involve elite units, advanced surveillance, and occasional direct action, often framed as counterterrorism or counternarcotics.
Historical Precedents: Colombia and the FARC
One of the most documented examples of U.S. involvement came during Colombia’s long conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a Marxist guerrilla group heavily involved in drug trafficking. Starting in the early 2000s, a multibillion-dollar covert CIA program provided Colombian forces with critical support, including GPS-guided “smart bomb” kits that transformed standard munitions into precision weapons.
This technology enabled Colombian aircraft to target FARC camps hidden in dense jungles, killing at least two dozen high-level leaders. The program, separate from the public Plan Colombia aid package, also included NSA eavesdropping assistance and training for interrogating deserters. By decimating FARC’s command structure, these strikes contributed to the group’s eventual peace agreement in 2016, though the conflict’s roots in inequality and drug profits persisted.
U.S. Support in Mexico: From El Chapo to Ongoing Surveillance
In Mexico, U.S. assistance has focused on high-profile captures and intelligence sharing rather than widespread direct strikes. A notable case was the 2016 recapture of Sinaloa Cartel leader JoaquÃn “El Chapo” Guzmán in Operation Black Swan, a joint effort with Mexican naval special forces where Delta Force operators provided advisory support during the raid.
More recently, under shifting administrations, the U.S. has ramped up surveillance, including military spy plane flights near the border and CIA drone operations over Mexican territory to locate fentanyl production labs. Reports from 2025 indicate preparations by U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and its Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH) for potential “target packages” against cartel leadership and infrastructure, treating these groups similarly to insurgent networks. However, direct kinetic actions remain rare and controversial, often requiring Mexican coordination to avoid sovereignty violations.
Claims of ongoing Delta Force maritime raids or widespread lethal operations in Mexico lack confirmation from official sources and appear overstated in popular media. U.S. policy emphasizes training Mexican forces and intelligence fusion, with any elite unit involvement typically in advisory roles.
Private Contractors and Failed Ventures
The rise of private military contractors has added complexity. In 2020, Operation Gideon—a botched attempt to overthrow Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro—involved former U.S. special forces personnel from Silvercorp USA and Venezuelan exiles. The poorly planned sea infiltration ended in disaster, with most participants captured or killed, highlighting the risks of unregulated mercenary actions.
Similarly, the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse involved a group of mostly Colombian former soldiers hired through a Florida-based firm. Initially presented as protection detail, the operation turned lethal, plunging Haiti into further instability. These incidents underscore how post-conflict veterans from U.S.-backed programs can enter the private security market, sometimes fueling regional chaos.
Controversial Tactics: The Legacy of Fast and Furious
Not all U.S. efforts have succeeded without backlash. The ATF’s Operation Fast and Furious (2009–2011) allowed over 2,000 firearms to be sold to suspected straw purchasers in hopes of tracking them to cartel leaders. The strategy failed spectacularly: many guns were lost, and some appeared at crime scenes, including the killing of a U.S. Border Patrol agent. The scandal led to congressional investigations and highlighted the dangers of “gunwalking” tactics.
A Broader Asymmetric Fight
Today, the U.S. views cartels as hybrid threats combining insurgency tactics with criminal enterprise, prompting designations of some as foreign terrorist organizations. This enables expanded authorities for surveillance, drone operations, and potential strikes. Yet experts caution that military solutions alone cannot address root causes like demand for drugs, corruption, and poverty.
While elite units and intelligence agencies play roles in disrupting networks, the “shadow war” remains largely supportive and intelligence-driven. Direct confrontations, when they occur, carry high diplomatic and human costs. As threats evolve, so too does the delicate balance between security imperatives and regional sovereignty.
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