As the U.S. intensifies its fight against Mexican drug cartels, the CIA has been thrust into the center of the Trump administration’s strategy to dismantle one of the deadliest criminal networks in the world. In an exclusive report shared with ZeroHedge, CIA Deputy Director Michael Ellis outlined the formation of the Americas Counternarcotics Mission Center, a new initiative designed to accelerate efforts to dismantle these cartels, which have been labeled “foreign terrorists” by the administration.
The new center will merge the CIA’s counternarcotics division with its Western Hemisphere teams, creating what Ellis described as a “finely tuned machine” aimed at disrupting the cartels’ international operations. With over 25 years of experience in targeting jihadist networks, the CIA is now turning its focus to the sophisticated and transnational drug trafficking organizations that plague the U.S. southern border.
Ellis emphasized the agency’s strategy of targeting criminal networks upstream, beyond the U.S. border, to prevent the flow of narcotics into the country. “The drug trafficker is a savvy, sophisticated adversary,” he stated, noting that the CIA’s operations may remain covert due to their sensitive nature.
In a move to escalate the pressure on these cartels, the Trump administration has officially designated eight Latin American criminal groups as “foreign terrorist organizations.” This includes Mexico’s infamous Sinaloa Cartel, Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, and El Salvador’s MS-13. The administration is reportedly considering even bolder measures, including drone strikes, to target the Mexican cartels directly, a strategy that could reshape the future of drug enforcement along the southern border.
Despite the seriousness of these considerations, no formal decision on whether drone strikes will be authorized has been made. However, Acting DEA Administrator Derek Maltz stressed the importance of protecting American citizens, particularly children, from the deadly fentanyl smuggling operations that have ravaged communities across the U.S. “At some point, it’s about the safety of our kids,” Maltz told NBC News, underscoring the administration’s determination to tackle the cartel crisis head-on.
In response to the growing threat, Mexico has stepped up its efforts by deploying 10,000 troops to its northern border, tasked with inspecting vehicles for fentanyl and other illegal substances crossing into the U.S. This collaboration marks a significant development in U.S.-Mexico relations and demonstrates a new level of coordination between the two countries in their shared fight against drug cartels.
The CIA’s increased involvement in this complex operation reflects a shift in strategy as the U.S. seeks to target the financial and logistical networks that sustain these criminal organizations. The situation remains fluid, and the potential use of drone strikes represents an unprecedented escalation in the ongoing battle to curb the flow of drugs into the United States.
