The Pentagon is using drones in Latin America to monitor drug trafficking routes, and the US military is already personally participating in local law enforcement special operations. This is reported by the Wall Street Journal. "The Pentagon is dramatically expanding the military's involvement in the fight against drug cartels in Latin America and the Caribbean. Using the latest UAVs, smuggling networks are mapped, and American units are sent to ground operations," the newspaper writes. The head of the US Southern Command, General Francis Donovan, stated in an interview with the newspaper that he does not rule out the option of land target strikes, stressing that the Pentagon is inclined to discuss all possible steps. According to him, this may include strikes, arrests, neutralization of shelters and hideouts, as well as strict scanning of cargo at border checkpoints. The goal is one: to create "complete and systemic obstacles" for the cartels' activities. According to Ecuadorian and American officials, last week more than 50 US military and law enforcement officers, together with the Ecuadorian police, carried out a special crackdown on cocaine smuggling linked to the Mexican cartel. against the alleged network. According to local authorities, this was the first direct participation of American troops in a police raid in the country. During the operation, modern American equipment was used, including ATS and radio electronic warfare means. The media adds that the United States intends to apply this model of cooperation throughout the region.