There has been a growing sentiment amongst certain portions of the American public that not enough is being done to fight the Mexican drug cartels. The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) recently released a report in which they gave its thoughts on this issue.
According to Kirsten Ziccarelli, author of the report, the human toll inflicted by the Mexican drug cartels is staggering. Ziccarelli states, "The number of innocent individuals who suffer at the hands of the cartels will continue unless the U.S. adopts a new strategy." She believes that defeating the cartels is a crucial part of the America First agenda and a battle that is essential to win.
The report by AFPI highlights several reasons why the cartels are so dangerous and successful. It suggests that cartels have influence in nearly every major city in the United States and have even more control and influence in Mexico.
It is estimated that between 33% to 50% of all homicides in Mexico are directly linked to the cartels, and their crime rate has tripled since 2006. The cartels not only exert power through violence but also through corruption and bribery. The major cartels, such as the Sinaloa and the Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartels, are sophisticated crime organizations.
The report also emphasizes the extensive resources and weapons the cartels possess. They are known to have military-grade weapons and have increasingly used drones for both transportation of narcotics and as weapons.
Social media is also a key tool for the cartels, as they use it for recruitment. A Border Patrol agent mentioned that about 90% of drivers arrested for transporting drugs for the cartels were recruited via social media.
The report delves into the process of how cartels transport drugs, specifically fentanyl, into American cities. The cartels are the main suppliers of illicit fentanyl to the U.S., and their networks run deep. Fentanyl is trafficked across the border, sometimes with migrants, and then transported by the cartel's networks to communities deep within the country.
During a congressional hearing, Drug Enforcement Agency head Anne Milgram stated that the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels pose the greatest criminal drug threat the United States has ever faced. She highlighted the advanced criminal organization networks of both cartels, with members in every state in the U.S. and over 100 countries worldwide. The Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco Cartels are estimated to have approximately 26,000 and 18,800 members worldwide, respectively.
In its approach to combat the cartels, AFPI proposes several actions. Firstly, they advocate for securing the border by resuming construction of the border wall and reinstating immigration deterrence policies. Secondly, they believe in recognizing the technological advancements of the cartels and investing in resources such as intelligence gathering in Mexico to disrupt their drone operations. AFPI also advocates for imposing severe sanctions on banks and wire transfer fees to stifle the cartel's financial and strategic operations. Furthermore, it encourages pressuring other countries, namely Mexico and China, to crack down on the cartels. Lastly, it calls for cracking down on the cartels' social media and financial technology presence.
