Former DEA Special Operations Director Derek Maltz Sr. stated that cartels are generating billions of dollars in profits from their trafficking and smuggling operations. Maltz made the statement in a post on X on August 11.

"The Mexican Cartels are running the largest drug trafficking, human smuggling and sex trafficking operations ever while making billions," said Maltz, Former Director of the Special Operations Division.

According to a House Homeland Security hearing, the cartels made an estimated $13 billion in 2021 alone. These profits were generated from human smuggling, wherein migrants pay the cartels to transport them across the border illegally, and sex trafficking of migrants, mainly consisting of women and children.

Maltz's X post. | X.

Meanwhile, Insight Crime reports that 4.5 tons of pure fentanyl and 434 tons of methamphetamine are produced in Mexico per year "in order to meet the demand of the US consumption market." The chemical components cost between $9 million and $22.5 million for fentanyl and $83.3 million and $126.5 million for methamphetamine. The wholesale market for fentanyl sold by Mexican cartels in the United States is between $27 million and $67.5 million, allowing criminal organizations to sell fentanyl in America for a large profit.

The New York Post reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized 4 million fentanyl pills, or roughly 1,000 pounds, at an Arizona port of entry in early August. The seizure was valued at roughly $12.6 million.

Maltz formerly worked for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for 28 years, according to his bio. He was the Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice's Special Operations Division for ten years and was awarded the Presidential Rank award.