Ukraine to probe suspected infiltration of its military by Latin American cartel members seeking drone training, Intelligence Online reports
theins.press
The SBU, Ukraine’s domestic intelligence service, is investigating whether Spanish-speaking volunteers linked to Latin American drug cartels have infiltrated the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in the hopes of receiving FPV drone training

cross-posted from: https://lemy.lol/post/49502622

Ukrainian investigators suspect that some Mexican and Colombian volunteers intentionally sought placement in drone operator units with the aim of later using this training in the service of foreign criminal organizations. A few individuals reportedly demonstrated an “unusual obsession” with UAV instruction, at the expense of other military training. Among them is a Mexican national using the alias “Águila-7,” who registered in March 2024 under a false Salvadoran identity.

Several private military and security companies are also mentioned in the probe:

Grupo ROKA Seguridad, a Mexico-based industrial security firm, was named in confidential reports by Polish customs officials. The company has been linked to the smuggling of firearms and personnel entering Ukraine through the Medyka–Shehyni border crossing. In Colombia, SEGURCOL SAS, based in Cali and Medellín, reportedly recruited former Colombian Army rangers on behalf of foreign clients.

  • lurch (he/him)@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    10·
    4 days ago

    Hmm. But if they fight the russians and don’t commit crimes during their stay, it’s not so bad. You can’t prosecute ppl for crimes they did not yet commit. Maybe they wanted out of the cartel or so.

      • Salamanderwizard@lemmy.world
        5·
        4 days ago

        Hell that’s a problem in any army. When I was in the Marines, I remember our D.I calling it out. Saying how some of the dudes there were only there to learn to kill for their gang. It didn’t matter to em as long as they didn’t do it while they were in.

    • thebestaquaman@lemmy.world
      5·
      4 days ago

      I agree with the sentiment that this isn’t directly bad as long as they’re fighting the russians. However, if their motivation to fight is just to learn how to use UAV’s for a cartel, they’re likely to desert at the moment shit hits the fan. This hurts morale badly.

      Secondly, the countries in which the cartels operate will be more inclined to actively take Ukraines side if they take this seriously.

      Finally,

      You can’t prosecute ppl for crimes they did not yet commit.

      To be frank: Yes you can (in a sense). Planning a crime (robbery, murder, etc.) can often be prosecuted as a crime in itself, often under the condition that the person in question appears capable or near-capable of doing whatever they were planning to do.