The use of bombs is illegal and dangerous

Artifact of the Week: PRC-112B1 Survival Radio

The PRC-112B1 is a hand-held radio providing line-of-sight voice, text, and data communications. It contains a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, which also allows it to transmit the user’s geographic location. This unit was used as a survival radio during CIA operations in Afghanistan.

Learn more. https://www.cia.gov/legacy/museum/artifact/prc-112b1-survival-radio/

improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and bomb-dropping drones by drug cartels is an increasing trend in parts of Mexico, while a recent unrelated store explosion killed over 20 people. 

Cartel Use of Explosives

Mexican criminal organizations, such as the Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel, have increasingly adopted modern warfare tactics, including the use of IEDs and armed drones against rival groups and authorities. 

• Drone Attacks: Cartels have used drones to drop improvised explosive devices, such as the October 2025 attack on a prosecutor’s office near the U.S. border in Tijuana.
• Roadside Bombs: The Mexican army has reported an increase in roadside bombs and IEDs. In May 2025, six soldiers were killed and two wounded by a bomb explosion in Michoacán state.
• Seizures: Authorities have seized thousands of IEDs and homemade bombs, many of which are rudimentary devices made from plastic bottles or drainpipes and packed with homemade explosives. 

Recent Non-Criminal Explosion

A fire and explosion at a convenience store in Hermosillo, Sonora state, in November 2025 killed at least 23 people. Authorities believe the incident was caused by a faulty transformer and have ruled out criminal involvement. 

U.S. Military Context

Recent news reports also cover discussions within the U.S. government regarding the potential for U.S. military action, including drone strikes, against cartel targets in Mexico, though this remains a subject of political and legal debate, with Mexico emphasizing national sovereignty. 

For official travel safety information, U.S. citizens can consult the U.S. Department of State Mexico Travel Advisory, which advises increased caution in certain areas due to crime and kidnapping.