Trump's Plan to Combat Mexican Drug Cartels

Trump's Strategy Against Drug Cartels

According to reports, former President Trump has informed his allies that should he return to the White House, he plans to deploy Tier 1 US Special Forces operators to Mexico to eliminate drug cartel leadership. However, the approach of attacking cartel command and control centers may not be the most effective way to dismantle these criminal organizations. During a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, Trump stated, "For the first time under my administration, we are seizing the assets of the criminal gangs and drug cartels and we will use those assets to create a compensation fund to provide restitution for the victims of migrant crime."

Financial War Against Drug Trafficking

Trump's remarks at Mar-a-Lago imply that if he wins the November election, the US Treasury Department could intensify its financial war against the violent Mexico-based drug trafficking cartel, which is responsible for America's drug overdose crisis. David Asher, a senior fellow at the conservative Hudson Institute who specializes in US foreign policy and law enforcement, commented in April 2023, "When it comes to drug trafficking, we haven't enforced sanctions against banks seriously." He added, "If we can sanction Russian oligarchs and banks, why can't we do the same thing to Mexican drug lords and their bankers and bank accounts and banks — especially when we know who they are."

Sanctions and National Emergency Declaration

Should Trump return to the presidency, international fentanyl trafficking could be declared a national emergency. This would enable the Treasury to heavily sanction drug cartels and their banks, and allow Trump to seize the sanctioned property of fentanyl traffickers. The target wouldn't be limited to Mexican banks where traffickers keep their money, but could also include Chinese banks. Sanctions could then be used by Trump to deter Chinese chemical firms from sending fentanyl-precursor chemicals to Mexico. These chemicals, once processed, become fentanyl, which is then transported over the open southern borders and distributed in American towns and cities.

Targeting Illicit Financial Networks

If Trump wins the election, the illicit financial networks of the cartels and Chinese companies involved in the drug crisis could become immediate targets. It's worth noting that without firing a single shot, China contributes to the deaths of 100,000 Americans each year due to the drug overdose crisis. Many of these casualties are prime-aged working men and women, essentially military-aged individuals. Some argue that this is a form of reverse opium wars waged by the Communists on the West. Trump aims to put an end to this chaos, which has been allowed to escalate drastically under the Biden-Harris administration.

Impact on Mexican Economy

The question arises whether activist hedge funds will short the peso and Mexican banks if Trump wins the election. This seems to be a significant theme in the making, contingent, of course, on a Trump victory.

Bottom Line

The war on drugs has been a long-standing issue for the United States, with various strategies implemented over the years. Former President Trump's proposed method of seizing assets and imposing sanctions is a different approach that could potentially have significant impacts on both the drug trade and international relations. What are your thoughts on this strategy? Do you think it could be effective in combating the drug crisis? Share this article with your friends and let us know your thoughts. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.