Since President AMLO took office, a staggering number of homemade incendiary devices have been discovered in Mexico. The latest incident occurred in the western state of Jalisco, where authorities conducted a police raid on a house that was cleverly designed to resemble a castle. This operation led to the discovery of a fully functional workshop dedicated to the production of drone-carried bombs.

State police released photos showcasing 40 small cylindrical bombs equipped with fins, specifically designed to be released by drones. Alongside these dangerous devices, law enforcement officials also found various bomb-making materials, including approximately 45 pounds of metal shrapnel and 15 pounds of gunpowder. Although a suspect was observed fleeing into the house, they managed to escape through the back, resulting in no immediate arrests.

The town of Teocaltiche, where the raid took place, is situated in an area plagued by violent territorial disputes between the Jalisco and Sinaloa drug cartels. This region has witnessed significant criminal activity, as illustrated by a previous incident in August. At that time, five young individuals disappeared in the nearby city of Lagos de Moreno. Disturbing videos later emerged, suggesting that the victims may have been coerced into murdering one another.

To exacerbate the situation, the Mexican army recently announced a surge in the use of drone-carried bombs by drug cartels. These explosive devices were previously unheard of in Mexico until 2020. Shockingly, 260 attacks deploying this technology were recorded in the first eight months of 2023 alone. However, this figure may significantly underestimate the true extent of the problem. In parts of the neighboring state of Michoacan, residents report near-daily encounters with bomb-dropping drones.

Furthermore, this year has also seen an alarming rise in attacks involving roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). A total of 42 soldiers, police officers, and suspects have been wounded by IEDs, compared to just 16 in 2022. Regrettably, these figures only account for those injured by explosive devices. Officials have confirmed that at least one National Guard officer and four state police officers lost their lives in separate explosive attacks throughout the year. Car bombs, previously sporadic occurrences in northern Mexico, have also increased in frequency, with six incidents reported in 2023 compared to just one the previous year.

The overall statistics are deeply concerning, as a total of 556 improvised explosive devices, encompassing roadside, drone-carried, and car bombs, have been discovered in Mexico between January and August 2023 alone. Since President AMLO assumed office in December 2018, a staggering 2,186 such devices have been found across the country.

The operation to secure the ranch where these elaborate explosives and materials were discovered was a collaborative effort involving Jalisco state police, the Mexican Army, and the National Guard. The Secretary of Security in Jalisco shared a video on social media, showcasing security forces outside the castle-like house, which boasted a watchtower and commanding views of the surrounding town. The footage also revealed the sheer quantity of bombs and bomb-making equipment uncovered within the property.

These developments shed light on the escalating threat posed by homemade incendiary devices in Mexico. The government and law enforcement agencies must redouble their efforts to combat this alarming trend, as it poses a significant danger to public safety and security.