NYT: Mexican Cartels Hack U.S. Military Phones

Mexican cartels allegedly hacked phones of U.S. soldiers at the border, according to a report by The New York Times. The case exposes how military surveillance on the southern border is no longer just physical, but also digital.

The revelation comes amid an operation that has been active for over a year. The Pentagon maintains approximately 9,000 active-duty soldiers on the border strip, with weekly costs reaching tens of millions of dollars.

What did the report reveal?

The report, signed by Eric Schmitt and published on June 23 by The New York Times, indicates that U.S. military personnel detected hacks on their phones. Afterward, they began receiving intimidating messages.

According to the newspaper, this occurred following the fall of criminal leader known as «El Mencho,» killed in February in an operation with CIA support. Pressure on the cartels allegedly pushed their response toward new forms of harassment.

The information describes a border that is more technological and more tense. Patrols no longer just monitor roads or mountains. They also face threats to data, communications, and location.

The Pentagon reported in May that the first four months of the operation cost $525 million. It did not reveal the accumulated total, but did confirm the mission’s budgetary scale.

Why is the hacking concerning?

Because it is no longer just about smuggling or illegal crossings. A compromised phone can expose routes, movements, contacts, and routines. This increases the risk of any operation.

The border strip is long and difficult to control. The deployment aims to contain irregular migration, human trafficking, and drug cartels. But technology also opens a front of vulnerability.

According to the Congressional Research Service, military support missions on the border typically generate debate over their cost and prolonged use. In this case, the cybersecurity risk adds a new dimension.

Officials cited by the Times affirm that troops received threat messages after the hack. No drone attacks were reported nor casualties among U.S. military personnel, but the harassment is real and persistent.

The report also indicates that the Army conducted more than 800 surveillance flights since the operation began. The previous year had recorded about 160. This shows an increase