Fentanyl seizures up 25% since trump took office yet with a drastic reduction in illegal crossings, cartels have shifted their business model to trafficking drugs into the u.s As a way of making up for profits lost from moving people across the border, officials said. El paso, texas—since the start of 2025, border security measures have cost the mexican cartels more than $1 billion, according to estimates by the el paso sector of the border patrol in texas “we’re hurting them in the pocketbook,” interim border patrol chief for the el paso sector walter slosar tells the daily signal In recent years, slosar says he can recall days when as many as. The trump crackdown recognizes cartels’ financial motive
He has sanctioned several actors, from mexican banks to a mexican rapper on allegations of laundering cartel money. The administration’s intensified crackdown on drug cartels underscores the financial sector’s growing role in national security and foreign policy enforcement. Since the start of 2025, border security measures have cost the mexican cartels more than $1 billion, according to estimates by the el paso sector of the border patrol in texas “we’re hurting them in the pocketbook,” interim border patrol chief for the el paso sector walter slosar tells the daily signal. Mexico's pledge to send 10,000 troops to the border comes as those on this side of the border are facing new threats.
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