How effective are CIA surveillance drones at identifying fentanyl labs in Mexico?

CIA surveillance drones have proven highly effective at identifying fentanyl labs across Mexico. These labs emit distinctive chemical signatures that make them relatively easy to detect from the air, allowing the drones to precisely locate drug production facilities. Despite this technological success, implementation challenges exist. During the Biden administration, the Mexican government has reportedly been slow to act on intelligence provided by American surveillance, hampering the overall effectiveness of the program. This highlights that while the drone technology itself works well, international cooperation remains a critical factor in translating detection into successful enforcement actions.