US State Department works with Ukraine to prevent drone skills from being transferred to drug cartels

The US State Department is working with Ukrainian counterparts to prevent Latin American drug cartels from transferring drone skills to Ukrainian-trained mercenaries. The Washington Post (WP) writes about this.

The growing use of drones by the cartels is complicating Washington's efforts to combat the flow of drugs into the country, according to the publication, citing US officials. It is noted that criminal groups are increasingly resorting to the help of mercenaries who gained experience during the Ukrainian conflict.

The newspaper clarifies that in recent years, Mexican cartels have been more actively recruiting fighters who have returned from Ukraine and are seeking to send their members there for training. One unnamed Colombian mercenary, who fought on the side of Kyiv, said that there could be about a hundred people from Colombia in Kherson, controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

The State Department said it is working with U.S. law enforcement officials and counterparts in Ukraine “to take steps to reduce the risk of transfer of skills learned on the battlefield.”