The American Government’s yearly threat assessment has announced that drug cartels have once again topped the list of our nation’s biggest threats. This has not occurred for nearly two decades. This information comes from Senate Intelligence Chairman Tom Cotton.
The previous office tenure held by Trump, by stark comparison, had labelled climate change as one of our biggest issues. However, now it seems that the current agenda is tackling cartels.
Hispanic drug cartels in this hemisphere “endanger the health and safety of millions of Americans and contribute to regional instability” as the assessment states. This accompanies some devastating numbers in the report. Over 52,000 deaths were reported in the October 23-24 year, all attributed to Fentanyl and other synthetic opiates. This is a one-third drop from last year, which may be due to the more prevalent availability of drugs like Naloxone to counter overdoses. However, over 50,000 children won’t be returning home to their families after this influx of drugs.
This lower death toll by overdose is a small mark of success in this. The outright menace that drug cartels still pose overpowers the small victories.
According to the report, Mexico-based criminal organizations are ramping up lethal attacks in Mexico. These attacks are against rivals as well as those trying to put a stop to them. “They use IEDs, including landmines, mortars, and grenades.”
Trump’s first month in office saw a drastic increase of military surveillance of Mexican drug cartels. Spy planes and drones were used. Regardless, the cartels continue to smuggle drugs over the southern border. The DEA has commented that the majority of Fentanyl in our country was made from ingredients produced in China.
China won’t intercede, and we should stop asking.
John Ratcliffe, Director of the CIA, has previously testified that the Chinese Government has been both “Limited” as well as “Intermittent” in their effort to end the local Chinese production of Fentanyl ingredients.
Ratcliffe provided a fairly direct possible reason: “There are more than 600 PRC-related companies that produce those precursor chemicals in an industry that generates $1.5 trillion.” Naming the People’s Republic of China as having a possible financial motivation for staying out of the fight.
China’s role in the Fentanyl production chain is of a particularly sensitive nature for Chinese-American talks. PRC Government claims the US is “Smearing and scapegoating” Beijing over the American opioid crisis.
Fentanyl ingredient sourcing was cited by Trump’s Administration as one factor leading to the increased tariff levies on Chinese goods.
But the war on drugs seems to be claiming the smallest of victories. Earlier this month, drug cartel leader Eleazar Medina-Rojas, nicknamed “El Chelelo” plead guilty in his most recent court appearance. Conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine and other drugs into America, according to the Office of Public Affairs. El Chelelo was the leader of the cartel La Compañia, or the company.
Has this small measure of victory actually produced a measure of hope to stop the drug infection from our nation? Probably not. But it’s one small drop in the bucket that may eventually tip the scales.
