The Narco Blog

3 Drone Bombs and a CNC Machine: Chihuahua Police Raid Alleged Explosives Workshop in Balleza After Gunmen Attack Soldiers — 2 Attackers Killed

By The Narco Blog · October 11, 2026 · Updated October 11, 2026

Aerial view of state police and army vehicles parked outside wooden buildings in a pine forest in Balleza, Chihuahua — Chihuahua state police and Mexican army vehicles outside the property in El Almagre, Balleza, where authorities say they found three homemade drone bombs. Photo: uncredited, via El Diario.

Chihuahua state police and federal prosecutors raided a property in Balleza, in the mountains of southern Chihuahua, on Oct. 8, 2026. Inside they found three homemade bombs built to be dropped from drones, plus a CNC machining center, a vertical milling machine and a generator that authorities say were used to make them. The search came after gunmen opened fire on Mexican soldiers near the hamlet of Pinalejo, and two of the attackers were killed, local outlets reported.

What was found

El Diario reported Oct. 10, citing the state’s Secretaría de Seguridad Pública (SSPE), that the property is in the community of El Almagre. It said aerial patrols spotted the site first, and air and ground units then carried out a search warrant. Puente Libre and Código 13 Parral, also on Oct. 10, reported that the SSPE worked with Mexico’s federal attorney general’s office (FGR). They said the explosives, the machinery and the house were handed to the FGR for investigation. No arrests were reported, and none of these reports named a criminal group.

A vertical milling machine and a CNC machining center inside wooden sheds — A vertical milling machine and a CNC machining center that authorities say were used to make explosives to be dropped from drones, in Balleza, Chihuahua. Photo: uncredited, via El Diario.

The shootout at Pinalejo

Telediario reported Oct. 8 that soldiers on patrol found an abandoned Chevrolet Tahoe next to a school in Pinalejo, with ammunition inside. While they guarded it, several vehicles carrying armed men arrived and opened fire. Soldiers fired back and killed two men, aged about 20 to 30, who wore tactical gear and had not been identified. The rest fled on foot. Two AK-47s, an AR-type rifle, 11 magazines, 220 rounds and five vehicles were seized. No injured soldiers were reported.

The timing differs between reports. Puente Libre and Código 13 place the search on Oct. 8, after the attack. El Diario says the attack happened two days before the operation.

Who controls the area

Authorities have not said who ran the workshop. Borderland Beat, on Oct. 11, cited researcher El Halipon as saying the area belongs to Gente Nueva de los Salgueiro, a Sinaloa Cartel faction it described as loyal to “Mayito Flaco.” Officials have not confirmed that.

Sources

Reported Oct. 11, 2026, from the outlets listed above. Authorities had not announced arrests, identified the two dead men or named the group behind the workshop as of that date.