U.S.CRIME WATCH

Cartels use drones to scout border agents, map smuggling routes

The military logged the incursions in a single month, and experts say cartels will keep adapting their tactics; the sky is now busier than the border crossings.

On air: Rosa Ticks and Hank Ledger on BBN Crime Watch
Published 12:49 AM ET, Thursday, October 15, 2026

Photo: Lt. Col. Leslie Pratt · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Rosa Ticks and Hank Ledger on this story, from BBN Crime Watch at 12:49 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Fox News's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Lt. Col. Leslie Pratt · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

Photo: Unmanned aerial vehicle — Photo: Lt. Col. Leslie Pratt · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

First reported by Fox News: “Cartels use drones to scout border agents and map smuggling routes, expert warns”.
Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 12:49 AM ET on BBN Crime Watch, by Rosa Ticks and Hank Ledger; aired 2 times.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

Fox NewsCartels use drones to scout border agents and map smuggling routes, expert warns

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorFox News reports the U.S. military found three hundred seventy-eight cartel drone incursions along the Mexico border over thirty days, with an expert warning the cartels will keep getting more sophisticated.
Rosa Ticks · Live ReporterTHREE HUNDRED SEVENTY-EIGHT! They are scouting the agents, they are mapping the routes, and tonight I am eating gas station almonds in total fear!
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThree hundred seventy-eight in thirty days is about twelve a night. Somebody has a routine.

▶ Watch BBN liveMore U.S. →

More Shorts

All videos →

▶ Short · U.S.They're Selling Mirrors To Socks, And You Get TwoMore about this Short
▶ Short · U.S.He Asks The Soup How It Feels FirstMore about this Short
▶ Hot Take or Not · U.S.Joe Buck's $108M ESPN Deal: Why Aikman Is Really MadAbout this segment
▶ Short · U.S.The Gull Who Became Harbor MasterMore about this Short
▶ Short · U.S.The weather presenter whose personal cloud won't leave her aloneMore about this Short
▶ Interviews · U.S.Lawrence Mayor Refuses to ResignAbout this segment
▶ Short · U.S.Margaret has waited nine hours and never asked whyMore about this Short
▶ As it aired · U.S.Trump donor Eric Deters says he won't stop demands after Kimberly…Read the story
▶ Interviews · U.S.Toyota RAV4 Recall of 31,000: Minister Takes Credit, Blames GravelAbout this segment
Photo: geeskaafrika · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · U.S.Somaliland celebrates a second day after Trump recognitionRead the story