Multiple United States Air Force MQ-9A Reaper drones are actively participating in counternarcotics operations across the Caribbean. Publicly available images confirm at least five MQ-9A aircraft, with serial numbers xx-4275, 17-4356, 19-4390, 19-4398, and 20-4408, have flown or are currently operating out of Aguadilla (BQN/TJBQ), Puerto Rico. The deployment was noted between 1:05 AM UTC and 4:05 AM UTC on October 4th, 2025. These MQ-9A Reapers are specifically tasked with supporting ongoing counternarcotics efforts in the Caribbean region. The confirmation of their operational status and location was made by monitoring sources based on publicly available imagery. The deployment of these unmanned aerial vehicles highlights the continued U.S. commitment to interdicting illicit drug trafficking in the Caribbean. The MQ-9A Reaper is a remotely piloted aircraft system known for its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, as well as its ability to conduct offensive counter-insurgency operations. Further details regarding the specific duration or objectives of these counternarcotics operations were not immediately available. The U.S. Air Force has utilized MQ-9A aircraft for similar missions in various operational theaters globally.
