Washington, October 16, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
US President Donald Trump has claimed that drug cartels effectively control Mexico and warned of intensified action against trafficking networks, saying his administration is preparing to expand operations from maritime routes to targets on land.
Speaking at a White House Rose Garden lunch honouring first responders, Trump said the United States was working with Mexico but alleged that its government lacked the capacity to confront the cartels effectively.
“We’re working with Mexico. But unfortunately, the cartels run Mexico. I tell that to the president of Mexico. She’s not happy. She’s a great woman, wonderful woman, but the cartels run Mexico,” Trump said.
Trump claimed that his administration had reduced drug trafficking through maritime routes by 97 per cent, without specifying the period covered or identifying the data behind the figure. He said the initial focus on sea routes reflected the difficulties involved in intercepting suspected drug shipments at sea.
The President also defended the use of missiles against suspected drug-trafficking vessels, arguing that the operations were disrupting criminal networks responsible for bringing drugs into the United States.
“Those missiles come and they hit those boats dead center, and you feel terribly for the people,” he said, while maintaining that drugs transported on the vessels had devastating consequences for American families.
Trump said the administration was now preparing to intensify operations against land-based trafficking routes associated with Mexican cartels. He claimed authorities knew the routes used by traffickers and where cartel members operated, adding that the campaign would become more difficult as it expanded.
He also suggested that cartel members had been given a period in which to surrender, but offered no details about the warning or its implementation.
“Mexico should be doing it, but honestly, they’re not capable of doing it,” Trump said.
Separately, Trump claimed that fentanyl entering the United States across the southern border had declined by 67 per cent. He credited Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol personnel with strengthening enforcement and tackling trafficking organisations.
Describing the border as the most secure in US history, Trump also praised National Border Patrol Council President Paul Perez, who addressed the gathering and credited the administration with providing greater support to border enforcement personnel and first responders.
The remarks underscore the administration’s continued emphasis on border security, illegal immigration and narcotics trafficking. The percentage reductions cited by Trump were not accompanied by supporting data during the event.
The United States and Mexico maintain extensive economic and security ties, with cooperation against organised crime involving law enforcement coordination, intelligence sharing and efforts to disrupt cross-border trafficking networks.
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