In this video, Patrick Bet-David delves into Trump’s aggressive approach to combating the cartel, unpacking his infamous vow to “Wipe them off the face of the Earth.” With DEA maps, historical data, and chilling statistics, the Patrick paints a dire picture of cartel infiltration into American society, the fentanyl epidemic, and a rising wave of cross-border crime…but will Trump’s plan really end the threat for good?
Classifying Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs)
The central thrust of Trump’s strategy involves officially classifying Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. According to former ICE Director Tom Homan, this designation empowers U.S. federal agencies like the FBI and DEA to engage cartels with the same force used against groups like ISIS. This move enables harsher penalties for Americans collaborating with cartels and justifies a global offensive against cartel networks operating in over 40 countries.
Cartel Presence in the United States
Using DEA-supplied visuals, the video emphasizes that Mexican transnational criminal organizations have a presence in nearly every major American city, from Atlanta to Sacramento. The spread is near-total, bypassing only the Dakotas and a few sparsely populated regions. These criminal networks are deeply embedded in local economies and communities.
Decades of Drug Evolution: From Marijuana to Fentanyl
The video delivers a timeline of drug trafficking from the 1980s to 2025:
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1980s: Marijuana dominated (1,500-2,000 tons/year); fentanyl was non-existent.
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2000s-2010s: Methamphetamine and heroin surged; fentanyl began appearing.
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2020s: Fentanyl exploded to 12-18 tons/year, becoming the dominant killer.
In 2022 alone, fentanyl caused 73,654 of the 107,941 overdose deaths in the U.S.—nearly 70%.
The Cartel’s Growth and Militarization
What began as a relatively small drug distribution system in the 1980s has ballooned into a quasi-military force of over 160,000 members, including sicarios (hitmen), informants, and corrupt officials. Cartels such as CJNG (Jalisco New Generation Cartel) and Sinaloa now control over 35% of Mexico’s territory, acting like state-level actors with diversified criminal portfolios.
Recruiting Americans for the Cartel Cause
A shocking revelation is the surge in American recruitment by cartels:
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American arrests in Mexico for organized crime increased 457% from 2018 to 2024.
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Over 1,000 U.S. citizens were arrested in Texas alone for people smuggling.
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Americans comprise over two-thirds of foreigners arrested for organized crime in Mexico.
Cartels target vulnerable Americans—often addicts or indebted individuals—and use them for trafficking, smuggling, and logistics.
Cartels’ Expanding Business Empire
Beyond drugs, cartels are now involved in:
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Human smuggling: Charging $5,000–$10,000 per migrant.
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Financial scams: Timeshare fraud targeting Americans ($300M+ stolen).
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Extortion: U.S.-based businesses including agriculture and nightclubs.
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Industry infiltration: Infiltrating avocado and cannabis sectors.
According to the CDC, the economic toll of the opioid crisis exceeds $1 trillion annually, including lost productivity, healthcare, and law enforcement costs.
A Warning and a Call to Action
The video concludes with a stark warning: If decisive action is not taken, cartels will become stronger, better armed, and more entrenched—akin to a foreign military force operating within U.S. borders. Trump’s aggressive stance, if followed through, could mark a seismic shift in how America addresses the fentanyl crisis and transnational crime.
The narrator supports Trump’s initiative but insists that only a very public, forceful crackdown—similar to how the U.S. dismantled the Mafia in the 1980s—will send the message that America is not a place for cartel impunity.
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