Colombia's long-standing internal conflict is evolving with the growing use of drones by both government forces and armed groups, especially in regions where cocaine trafficking is rampant. This shift has raised serious concerns for civilians living in these areas, as the mere presence of drones has been linked to psychological stress, even when they are not directly targeting individuals. According to Tiziano Breda, a Latin America regional expert at the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) project, the constant noise and uncertainty caused by drones have had a profound psychological impact on local populations. The rise in drone warfare coincides with the election of far-right president Abelardo de la Espriella, who has taken a more aggressive stance compared to his predecessor, left-wing president Gustavo Petro. De la Espriella, who took office in June, has vowed to engage in "total warfare" against militants, warning them of severe consequences—either imprisonment or death. His approach has led to a surge in violence, with August 2025 becoming the deadliest month for clashes between security forces and armed groups since ACLED began recording data in 2018, claiming 84 lives. In response to de la Espriella's confrontational policies, armed groups have quickly adapted by incorporating drones into their strategies. In the first three weeks of the new administration, around 30 drone attacks on government forces were recorded, primarily in the Cauca and Norte de Santander regions—more than four times the number recorded in the previous three weeks. Colombia has now become the focal point of drone warfare in Latin America, with 97 of the 182 municipalities where weaponized drone events were recorded being in Colombia. The use of drones has escalated dramatically, from just one recorded event in 2023 to about 150 in 2025 and nearly 200 by early 2026. Drones are most frequently used in areas with high levels of drug trafficking, where groups with greater financial resources have begun to adopt similar tactics. The far-left National Liberation Army (ELN) started using drones after a conflict with the 33rd Front, a faction of the former FARC rebels who rejected the 2016 peace deal. The 33rd Front, in turn, used drones against the Gulf Clan, Colombia’s largest drug cartel and a neo-paramilitary group. Now, the Gulf Clan has turned to drones to target the ACSN, another paramilitary group operating in coastal areas. However, the technology remains imprecise, leading to unintended civilian casualties and unexploded drones that often end up in the hands of local communities, including children. Drones are also used for surveillance, helping armed groups monitor local populations and detect rival activities. According to Breda, this provides a cost-effective way to control and monitor communities.