Ukraine is investigating the possible infiltration of drug cartels through the International Legion

Ukraine is investigating the possible infiltration of drug cartels through the International Legion

The Mexican intelligence services reached out to their Ukrainian colleagues with a warning that some volunteers from Mexico might go to fight for Ukraine to learn how to pilot drones, and then transfer this knowledge to criminal organizations.

This is reported by the French publication about intelligence services, Intelligence Online.

As reported, the Mexican intelligence agency, the National Intelligence Center (CNI), provided the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) with a confidential note about Mexican volunteers at the beginning of this summer.

The note reportedly stated that some of the volunteers joined the International Legion of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine to acquire advanced skills in drone use, particularly FPV drones.

After this, the SSU began an investigation with the Military Intelligence Service (DIU), which affected not only Mexicans but also Colombians serving in the International Legion, particularly in the secret unit Tactical Group Ethos.

Ukrainian investigators suspect that some volunteers from Mexico and Colombia deliberately sought to enter training centers for FPV drone operators, bypass initial checks, and transfer the acquired skills to transnational criminal organizations, reports Intelligence Online.

Several Mexicans and Colombians showed exceptional interest in learning drone operations, ignoring all other forms of training. Among them was a Mexican volunteer identified as Aguila-7 by the SSU — he joined the legion in March 2024 under the false identity of a Salvadoran.

Aguila-7 completed the entire training cycle in drone courses in Lviv, where instructors noted his high initial level of training. He was proficient with analog transmitters, identified thermal "blind spots," and anticipated radio-electronic countermeasures.

According to further investigation, writes Intelligence Online, it was revealed that he was likely a member of GAFE — a Mexican special forces unit, some former members of which later turned to crime, founding the "Los Zetas" cartel.

Additionally, a European security source cited by the publication stated that at least three former FARC militants (a Colombian rebel organization) also passed through the International Legion using Panamanian and Venezuelan documents.

The transport of such individuals across the border is allegedly assisted by companies related to drug cartels — they finance and organize legalization, as well as plot routes through Slovakia or Moldova.

The case of the suspected volunteers is being handled by the technical unit of the SSU, subordinate to the main counterintelligence department.

«We accepted volunteers with good intentions. But it must be acknowledged: Ukraine has become a global platform for the dissemination of FPV tactics. Some come here to learn how to kill using a drone worth $400, and then sell this knowledge to the highest bidder», said one of the SSU leaders, whose words are quoted by Intelligence Online.