U.S. Army Deploys Hundreds of Additional Soldiers to Rio Grande Valley Citing Increased Cartel Activity

The U.S. Army is deploying hundreds of additional soldiers to the Rio Grande Valley in October as part of a broader border deployment. Officials state this move is in response to elevated drug cartel activity in the region. The deployment includes efforts to detect and disrupt cartel-operated drones used for surveillance and drug trafficking, with the military having downed 11 drones using laser technology since August. Mexico has also sent 500 National Guard and military personnel to the state of Tamaulipas this month as part of coordinated 'mirror operations' with the U.S.