US military ramping up surveillance of Mexican cartels, general says

WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. military is increasing its surveillance of Mexican drug cartels to collect intelligence to determine how to best counter their activities, the top U.S. general overseeing troops in North America said on Thursday.

"We have also increased some uniquely military capabilities that will get after... the cartels, which are driving the illegal migration, and that is primarily through airborne ISR to get more information on those and figure out how we can counter their actions," said Air Force General Gregory Guillot, head of U.S. Northern Command.

Asked if he would need a carrier strike group in the waters between the United States and Mexico, Guillot said: "I will need significant increased maritime presence in cooperation with the Coast Guard."