Masked Sinaloa Cartel Figure Tells CNN Trump Crackdown Is Making Operations Harder
The rare on-camera admission mirrors higher smuggling fees alongside recent U.S. seizures.
Overview
- A senior Sinaloa Cartel member, speaking anonymously on camera to CNN, said President Trump’s measures have made his work “more difficult.”
- Reporter David Culver said officials now report migrant-smuggling prices climbing from about $6,500 to nearly $10,000 per person.
- Trump designated Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations on Jan. 20, unlocking broader criminal, financial, and military authorities.
- The administration has authorized military actions targeting cartel operations, including airstrikes in the Caribbean and strikes on drug-trafficking vessels.
- U.S. officials reported seizing 1,300 barrels of methamphetamine precursors bound for the Sinaloa Cartel, while Trump said Mexico’s president rejected a U.S. troop offer and the Pentagon considers additional options.