Trump's Cartel Crackdown Offers 'New Tools' but Won't Eradicate Them, Former Special DEA Agent Says (Exclusive)

As President Donald Trump ramps up his aggressive crackdown on Mexican drug cartels—designating them as terrorist organizations and imposing steep tariffs on Mexico—the Latin Times spoke with a former retired Special Agent from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to assess the impact. While he acknowledged that these measures provide "additional tools and resources" for law enforcement, he cautioned that completely eradicating these complex criminal networks remains an unrealistic goal.

Brian Townsend, who served 28 years in law enforcement with 23 years at the DEA, noted that the cartels operate with a franchise-like model, making them resilient to traditional dismantling efforts. He emphasized that while leadership arrests can disrupt operations, the decentralized nature of these groups allows them to continue functioning.

"Major decision-making is happening throughout the organization so you have people who just know the rules. There's no HR department, there's no manuals—they're good with communications, so when they're killed or arrested... What harm does it really do? I mean, look at El Chapo... he's in federal prison and [the Sinaloa Cartel] is still a major threat, a dangerous threat," he explained.

Cartel Operations in the U.S.

While much of the focus remains on cartel activity south of the border, the former DEA official stressed that Mexican drug cartels are deeply entrenched within the United States itself. "I don't think people understand how present they are," he said. "They're working with other criminal elements—different street gangs like MS-13, the Mexican Mafia—you name it. They don't just smuggle drugs into the country and walk away. They oversee distribution networks, ensure payments, and sometimes enforce their control with violence."

He explained that the supply chain for cartel operations extends far beyond the border. "From getting the chemicals from China, to producing drugs in Mexico, to smuggling them into the U.S., and then distributing them through major hubs—this is a highly sophisticated and well-organized operation."

Can the U.S. Eradicate the Cartels?

Despite Trump's aggressive rhetoric on dismantling the cartels, the former DEA supervisor remains skeptical about a total eradication. "Do I think we can disrupt and hurt them? Absolutely. But I don't think we can wipe them out," he said. "When you take someone out, there's already someone else ready to replace them."

Townsend pointed out that recruitment is a key factor keeping cartels alive. "They recruit more people than those that are killed or arrested... I hate to say this, but they recruit really well. If you went into any organization and you removed a bunch of people and only had six people doing the job, you're eventually going to go under... with them it's like you take 10 out and you look around and you got 15 new people."

The Role of U.S. Drug Demand and Gun Trafficking

While much of the focus remains on stopping the flow of drugs, the former agent stressed that the U.S. bears responsibility for both its drug demand and its role in supplying weapons to the cartels. "We have four percent of the world's population but the highest demand for drugs," he said. "That demand fuels cartel violence. They're willing to kill each other for control because whoever controls the flow of drugs makes the most money."

The former official, who also runs Only 2mg, a nonprofit focused on combating the fentanyl crisis, expressed disappointment in the lack of attention given to addiction treatment and prevention. "We lose about 300 people a day to drug overdoses in the U.S., and most people don't care because of the stigma. If 20 dolphins washed up dead every day, there'd be outrage. But because it's drug users, people write them off," he said.

On the issue of American firearms reaching cartel hands, he was blunt. "That's been a problem long before Trump or Sheinbaum. I'd love to see someone tackle it because straw purchases and gun smuggling have real consequences. These traffickers have blood on their hands."

Overall, Townsend supports Trump's tougher stance on drug trafficking, but he said it must be paired with serious investments in public health efforts to reduce demand: "Unfortunately I haven't seen a push domestically by either party and by any president to really get serious about addiction substance use—Until we address the root causes of addiction, we're just going to be playing a cat-and-mouse game...we can do more."