Mexican cartel utilizing drones to launch explosives attacks rural communities, prompting 800-1,000 families to flee

(SeaPRwire) –   Between 800 and 1,000 families have been forced to flee their homes in the mountains of central Mexico as a criminal mafia attacked them with homemade explosives launched from drones and heavy weapons, according to community and human rights groups on Sunday.

The wave of violence in the conflict-ridden state of Guerrero began on Wednesday when the powerful group known as Los Ardillos launched fierce attacks on rural mountainous communities.

Thousands of people—including children and the elderly—were displaced within just days after what residents say were years of escalating assaults. At least one person was injured, reported the People’s Indigenous Council of Guerrero – Emiliano Zapata (CIPOG-EZ), an organization representing the affected communities.

Videos show families fleeing their homes early Sunday morning—on Mother’s Day—cloaked in darkness carrying only backpacks. Other images shared with The Associated Press depict heavy gunfire echoing across farms and drones rigged with explosives lying in the brush.

“These have been days of terror,” said Marina Velasco, a representative for CIPOG-EZ. “They’ve been bombing communities with drones, and how can anyone defend themselves against a drone carrying bombs dropping from the sky.”

Community groups and local religious organizations say Los Ardillas have sought to seize control of the land for years amid ongoing territorial battles with various rival criminal organizations.

Velasco stated that families have taken refuge in nearby towns, where many are now sheltering in a soccer field. She noted that while there is a limited presence of state security forces, such communities have largely been “abandoned” by Mexican authorities during attacks by criminal groups. Neither Mexico’s federal government nor local officials in Guerrero responded immediately to requests for comment.

The CIPOG-EZ has recorded 76 deaths in the region over recent years due to clashes with the group, along with 25 additional individuals who remain missing.

Drug cartels have been employing drones and increasingly sophisticated weaponry for years in their conflicts, signaling the deepening entrenchment of violence in regions like Guerrero, where splintered factions continue to battle for dominance. In response, local communities have begun arming themselves to resist groups such as Los Ardillas.

This surge in violence occurs as Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has intensified her crackdown on cartels compared to her predecessor, amid growing pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened military action against these groups—a move Sheinbaum has described as “unnecessary.” Her administration has reported a nearly 40% decline in homicides since taking office, a statistic the government has highlighted despite being embroiled in several scandals in recent weeks.