This is after he first ordered three military strikes in September on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean, and again several more this month. Trump said he did so in an attempt to thwart cartel and foreign terrorist organizations from smuggling fentanyl and other illicit drugs to the U.S. to stop the drug war once and for all.
The Trump administration designated the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua as a FTO in February and has also levied sanctions against Venezuela and Colombia, where cartels and FTOs have long orchestrated global drug and human smuggling operations.
By early October, Trump told Congress the U.S. was engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels in the Caribbean. On Friday, he said he planned to provide more information to Congress about using the U.S. military to target drug cartel operations, The Center Square reported.
While critics argue the president is escalating conflict in the Caribbean, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard have been interdicting cartel and FTO drug and human smuggling, including in the Caribbean, for years. In addition to targeting cartel operatives, they’ve also been arresting illegal foreign nationals from countries of foreign concern like Russia.
In the first three months of the Trump administration, USCG crews hit a milestone of interdicting more than 80,000 pounds of illicit drugs being smuggled by drug cartels attempting to reach the U.S. Their efforts were part of a U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) directive that deployed two U.S. Navy warships to the southwest border in direct support of Coast Guard interdiction efforts, The Center Square reported.
Last month, federal agents made history by seizing the largest volume of precursors used to produce methamphetamine after interdicting two shipments from two ships on the high seas. DHS Homeland Security Investigations international agents in Guatemala, Panama and Mexico worked closely with foreign law enforcement partners to consolidate shipments in Panama and divert them to the Port of Houston, The Center Square reported.
Their efforts through HSI Operation Hydra are continuing to target drug trafficking by hitting the supply line of chemical precursors used to manufacture fentanyl and methamphetamine being shipped from China to cartel operatives.
Nearly 700,000 pounds of precursor chemicals were seized from two ships in this operation – the largest volume seized in U.S. history.
By comparison, in fiscal 2024, CPB agents seized nearly 174,000 pounds of methamphetamine at the southwest border alone, according to CBP data.
Supporters of Trump’s actions argue military action will better support CBP Marine and Air Operations (AMO) officers and USCG crew who have been combatting drug and smuggling operations at sea with limited resources near Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
As the border crisis escalated during the Biden administration, CBP AMO and Border Patrol officers working out of the CBP Ramey Sector and USCG crew made record apprehensions. In the first 10 months of the Trump administration, they continue to arrest drug and human smugglers and seize illicit drugs and contraband.
One week after Trump was sworn into office, AMO and USCG interdicted a vessel attempting to smuggle nearly 300 pounds of cocaine around the northern coast of Puerto Rico. Not soon after, AMO seized nearly 800 pounds of cocaine near Dorado, Puerto Rico. They also seized an additional 335 pounds of cocaine north of Luquillo a few months later with the assistance of Coast Guard aircraft based in Miami.
By June, seizure volumes increased, including more than 500 pounds of cocaine after AMO detected a vessel three nautical miles from Rincon. In a major nighttime interdiction operation, AMO seized 1,155 pounds of cocaine (22 bales) south of Cabo Rojo and also arrested foreign nationals.
In an international operation working with British, Dutch and French law enforcement, AMO officers seized even more: 3,175 pounds of cocaine near Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands. Fifteen men from a range of countries were arrested, CBP said. Not soon after, another 170 pounds of cocaine was seized near Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico, and more illegal foreign nationals were arrested.
By July, seizure volumes continued to increase at sea and on land. In one operation, AMO officers apprehended Venezuelans and seized more than 1,000 pounds of cocaine near Maunabo, Puerto Rico. In another, they seized nearly 600 pounds of cocaine roughly five miles west of Cabo Rojo. In another, they seized a record nearly 4,000 pounds of cocaine near Cabo Rojo.
Border Patrol and USCG also continue to apprehend foreign nationals from countries of foreign concern. Earlier this year, they arrested Russian nationals in an alleged smuggling attempt roughly five nautical miles west of Aguadilla. They also interdicted another smuggling attempt off the coast of Vieques, Puerto Rico, apprehending Uzbekistan nationals.
More recently, they interdicted a vessel near the shoreline of Combate in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, and arrested more than a dozen from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.
Interdiction is different than killing.
It is amazing that people would allow the government the power to kill people without any evidence other than the government saying “trust us, they were bad guys”.
We know what the left thinks of MAGA people; insurectionists and domestic terrorists or Nazi’s. That people would trust leftists with this power is staggering.
Yeah? And how many cargo ships have they blown out of the water? Let me guess, zero?