Trump Administration Reports Over 3,000 Cartel Arrests, Seizes 91 Tons Drugs

President Donald Trump hosted a roundtable at the White House to highlight his administration’s aggressive campaign against foreign drug cartels and violent criminal organizations in the United States. Under his leadership, the Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF) have arrested over 3,000 cartel leaders and operatives, including members of notorious groups such as the Sinaloa Cartel and MS-13, marking the largest number of such arrests in American history. Trump characterized cartels as the "ISIS of the western hemisphere" and emphasized that his administration treats them as a core national security threat, aiming to dismantle human smuggling, trafficking networks, and violent crime. The FBI reported an 86% increase in arrests since Trump took office, with over 28,000 arrests in 2024, and the administration has seized significant quantities of narcotics including cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl. Attorney General Pam Bondi and other officials praised the relentless efforts of the Justice Department and Homeland Security in combating these criminal enterprises, highlighting the importance of these actions in protecting American communities. The successes reflect a marked shift from previous administrations, with Trump asserting the need to secure the nation from cartel violence and illegal activities.