Mexican Cartels Unfazed by Trump’s Crackdown

Masked cartel member

If the Mexican drug cartels are concerned about former President Donald Trump's aggressive stance against them, they certainly aren’t showing it.

During a two-night stay with members of one of Mexico’s largest cartels, whose name they asked not to be disclosed, it was clear that their operations continued without hesitation. Weapons smuggled from the U.S., fentanyl prepared for transport north, and a safe house filled with migrants awaiting illegal passage into the U.S. were all in plain sight.

Trump’s Tough Talk Meets Cartel Indifference

Trump formally designated Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and threatened military action against them. His administration aimed to use the U.S. military as a deterrent against cartel activities, particularly drug and human smuggling.

Yet, when asked about the increased scrutiny from Washington, a cartel member shrugged.

"We’re not worried. This is business as usual. This is what we do."

That business involves a relentless pipeline of drugs and weapons across the U.S.-Mexico border.

American Guns, Mexican Cartels

During our time with the cartel, we witnessed firsthand how U.S. firearms fuel cartel violence. Hidden compartments in an SUV, recently driven across an official border crossing, concealed rifles and handguns, all purchased in the United States.

The Mexican Department of Foreign Relations estimates that 70% to 90% of firearms in Mexico originate from the U.S., where they are easily available. A cartel member explained:

"In the U.S., anyone can buy guns in stores. Here in Mexico, you need approval and strict records. But in the U.S.? It’s simple."

Despite Trump's focus on stopping drugs from entering the U.S., little attention is given to American firearms fueling cartel power in Mexico.

Fentanyl Pipeline Thrives

Minutes after unloading firearms, the same SUV was loaded with fentanyl. Five sandwich-sized packages containing a total of 10,000 pills, valued at more than $50,000. Hidden beneath the center console, the drugs were on their way north.

Fentanyl has devastated American communities, with the CDC estimating hundreds of thousands of overdose deaths tied to the synthetic opioid. Yet, on this night, smuggling operations continued uninterrupted.

U.S. Military in Mexico? Cartels Say They’ve Seen It Before

Trump’s designation of cartels as foreign terrorist organizations sparked speculation that U.S. special forces could be deployed inside Mexico. However, cartel members claim such forces are already present.

"They’ve been here for years. They train people here," one smuggler said.

Shortly after loading the fentanyl, the SUV set off. Hours later, the cartel confirmed to us, it had crossed the border without issue.

Human Smuggling: A Profitable Business

The following night, in another part of the border town, cartel members invited us to a non-descript house. Inside, armed men stood guard as two Indian families prepared for the final leg of their journey into the U.S.

Human smuggling is the cartel’s second most lucrative enterprise, and business is booming.

"There’s a lot of demand," a masked smuggler said, explaining that Trump’s immigration policies could actually increase their profits.

Mass deportations, he suggested, would create more customers. Meanwhile, deploying U.S. troops to the border would allow smugglers to charge higher prices for their services.

"They’ll need us more," he claimed.

Cartels See Demand, Not Deterrence

Both U.S. officials and independent experts confirm that human smuggling skyrocketed in recent years, generating billions in profits for cartels. Despite Trump’s vows to dismantle these networks, smugglers remain confident.

"The demand is still there," one said. "No matter what they change over there, we have to keep sending people."

They acknowledge that increased scrutiny makes their job harder, but stopping it completely? "Impossible."

Will Anything Change?

For now, drugs continue flowing into the U.S., and migrants still pay cartels to cross the border. Whether Trump's tough rhetoric will disrupt this reality remains to be seen.

What’s clear from these nights inside the cartel is that they operate with a simple rule: as long as the demand exists, so will their business.