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2mo ago

Mexico Deploys 10,000 Troops to Combat Fentanyl Trafficking at U.S. Border

Despite increased enforcement, Mexico faces challenges in detecting fentanyl as U.S. tariff threats loom.

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U.S. President Donald Trump holds an executive order about tariffs increase, flanked by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 13, 2025. REUTERS/File Photo
Denver, a Canada Border Service Agency drug-sniffing dog, demonstrates his drug-finding abilities at the Lansdowne Port of Entry next to the Thousand Islands Bridge in Lansdowne, Ontario, Canada February 12, 2025. REUTERS/Patrick Doyle
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Overview

  • Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum sent 10,000 troops to the U.S. border in early February to address fentanyl trafficking, doubling the military presence in response to tariff threats from President Donald Trump.
  • The operation has resulted in limited fentanyl seizures, with Mexican troops confiscating only 120 pounds of powder and 51,000 pills, compared to much larger quantities seized by U.S. officials.
  • Experts highlight structural issues, such as corruption, lack of intelligence, and underfunded security systems, as significant obstacles to Mexico's anti-fentanyl efforts.
  • Most fentanyl entering the U.S. is smuggled through official ports of entry, with Arizona identified as the primary entry point controlled by the Sinaloa cartel.
  • Critics question the sustainability of Mexico's border operation and emphasize the need for coordinated intelligence-sharing and broader strategies to address the fentanyl crisis.