Maroc - EURASIAREVIEW.COM - A la une - 28/Jan 00:27

US Puts Mexican Drug Cartels In Its Sights – OpEd

By Dalia Al-Aqidi For the first time, the US could soon officially designate Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. This historic move would mark a pivotal shift in how America addresses the violence and chaos caused by these criminal groups. It would raise critical questions about the implications for combating the cartels, enhancing international cooperation and understanding their ties to global terrorist organizations. By labeling these cartels as terrorist groups, Washington would be acknowledging the severity of their actions, which extend far beyond traditional organized crime. In one of his first actions back in office, President Donald Trump last week signed an executive order that moves the US government toward this designation. The order instructs the State Department to recommend, within 14 days, whether to go ahead. Mexican cartels have long plagued both their home country and the US with their brutality, corruption and drug trafficking operations. Their activities destabilize governments, fuel violence and undermine the rule of law. By designating cartels as terrorist organizations, Washington would be treating their actions as national security threats rather than mere criminal offenses. This classification would give law enforcement agencies greater authority to act decisively, including freezing cartel assets, denying their members entry to the country and imposing harsher penalties on those who aid or collaborate with them. Such measures are vital for dismantling the vast, complex networks that allow cartels to operate with impunity. Drug cartels are more than organized criminal groups; in many regions of Mexico, they function as quasi-governments. Through violence, intimidation and corruption, they control entire communities, operating as shadow states. They assassinate politicians, bribe officials and terrorize civilians. Cartels are the primary providers of jobs, security and even social services in some areas, creating a dependency that entrenches their power. This system mirrors the tactics of traditional terrorist organizations, making their designation as such both logical and overdue. The classification of cartels as terrorist groups would also draw attention to their troubling connections with global terrorism. One notable example is the relationship between some Colombian drug cartels and Hezbollah, a terrorist organization based in Lebanon. Hezbollah has long been involved in drug trafficking to fund its operations, with its influence extending into Latin America. In countries such as Venezuela and Colombia, Hezbollah has collaborated with cartels to smuggle drugs, launder money and facilitate illegal arms trades. These partnerships create a dangerous nexus between organized crime and global terrorism, where profits from drug sales in the US and Europe finance terrorist activities in the Middle East and beyond. The collaboration between cartels and terrorist organizations highlights their shared reliance on violence, corruption and exploitation to achieve their goals. Both use fear to maintain control, target vulnerable populations and weaken governments. The vast resources and networks controlled by cartels make them valuable allies for terrorist groups looking to expand their influence in the Western Hemisphere. Ignoring these connections would be a grave mistake, as it would allow these criminal and terrorist enterprises to grow unchecked. Examples from recent years demonstrate how cartels have facilitated the entry of individuals with suspected ties to terrorist organizations into the US. On May 3, 2024, two men driving a box truck arrived at the Quantico Marine Corps Base gate, claiming to be Amazon delivery drivers. They tried to force their way into the base. Investigations revealed that one of the men had illegally crossed the border from Mexico, entering California just weeks earlier. In July last year, Border Patrol agents in the San Diego sector detained three Palestinians who had crossed the southern border illegally. These individuals were suspected of having connections to terrorist organizations, raising significant security concerns. Also last year, federal investigators apprehended eight Tajikistani nationals in Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia. They were alleged to have ties to Daesh’s Khorasan Province and had also entered the US illegally via the southern border. Their arrests came just months after FBI Director Christopher Wray warned that human smuggling operations at the US-Mexico border were being exploited to bring individuals with suspected links to terror groups into the country. This decision would also recognize the immense human suffering caused by cartels. Their reign of terror includes car bombings, mass executions and beheadings. Women and children are often the most vulnerable victims, subjected to abduction, exploitation and murder. The parallels between cartels and radical terrorist groups are striking. In both cases, young men from impoverished areas are lured into these organizations with promises of wealth, power and a sense of belonging. For these recruits, the cartels offer an escape from poverty, even as they perpetuate cycles of violence and despair. In America, the impact of cartel violence is deeply felt through the ongoing opioid crisis. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid produced with precursor chemicals sourced in China and manufactured by Mexican cartels, has flooded American communities. It is alarmingly easy to access and has caused tens of thousands of deaths each year. If the designation goes ahead, authorities will be able to more effectively target the networks responsible for trafficking fentanyl and other deadly drugs, saving countless lives. Narco-culture has also become ingrained in society, influencing music, fashion and religious practices. This glamorization of cartel life, often perpetuated by the music and film industry, along with TV shows, creates a dangerous cycle in which young people view cartel membership as a path to success. These cultural shifts strengthen the cartels’ grip on society, making it even harder for governments to fight their influence. While the decision to designate cartels as terrorist organizations would be a strong statement, it would not be without its challenges. Critics argue that this move could strain US-Mexican relations, as Mexico may perceive it as an infringement on its sovereignty. There are also concerns about unintended consequences, such as increased violence if the cartels retaliate or further destabilization of the Mexican economy. Moreover, combating cartels requires more than military or law enforcement action. Addressing the root causes of cartel power — poverty, corruption and weak institutions — is essential for lasting change. Without investments in education, economic opportunities and governance reform, efforts to dismantle cartels may only provide temporary relief. The US’ move to label cartels as terrorist organizations should serve as a wake-up call to other countries. The influence of cartels is not limited to America and Mexico — their reach extends across the Americas and into Europe and Asia. If left unchecked, their operations could further destabilize regions, fuel global drug crises and strengthen their ties to terrorist organizations. Countries in the Global South, in particular, must recognize the threat cartels pose to their stability and take measures to combat their influence. Dalia Al-Aqidi is executive director at the American Center for Counter Extremism.