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 the National Debt Is the Looming Threat to Your Retirement Plans
The Hidden Crisis No One Is Talking About
Every day, headlines warn about inflation, market volatility, and global instability—but the greatest looming threat to your retirement might be something far more fundamental: America’s skyrocketing national debt.
You can learn more about how the national debt affects you by reading this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“.
With debt growing faster than most Americans can possibly fathom, the government’s borrowing habits have reached historic—and dangerous—levels. To cover spending, Washington is making moves with their budget packages, tariffs, and taxes. Is it enough? No. It’s not even close to what would be necessary to stop out-of-control debt, let alone reverse it.
How Debt Erodes Your Nest Egg
There are only so many levers government and the Federal Reserve can pull to try to protect Americans, assuming that’s even a top priority for them. Unfortunately, pulling one level to relive one pressure invariably adds pressure from another direction. This is why prices keep going up even as inflation reportedly slows.
For retirees and pre-retirees, that’s a perfect storm. The dollars you’ve worked hard to save lose value, and your cost of living increases while your investments lag behind.
If you’re relying solely on paper-based assets—stocks, bonds, or mutual funds—you’re essentially tied to the same system that’s creating the problem. It’s a system that was designed to work well in the 20th century, not in today’s world with people living longer and the dollar rapidly losing value.
This is why the 3-minute report, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now,” is so important.
The Precious Metals Hedge
Thousands of Americans are looking for a tangible, time-tested hedge: physical gold and silver.
Unlike paper assets, precious metals aren’t dependent on government policy or the stock market’s mood swings. They’re real, finite resources that have maintained value for thousands of years through wars, recessions, and inflationary periods.
In fact, during times of high inflation and fiscal instability, gold often performs its best—because it’s seen as a store of value when faith in the dollar weakens. This is why prices have skyrocketed this year and are expected by many economists to continue going up in the future.
Take Control with a Gold IRA
One of the most effective ways to protect your retirement from national debt fallout is through a self-directed Gold IRA. This IRS-approved account lets you hold physical gold and silver within your retirement portfolio, giving you:
- Direct ownership of your assets
- A hedge against inflation and dollar decline
- The control to diversify beyond Wall Street
Augusta Precious Metals specializes in helping Americans just like you take this step with confidence. The company has earned a strong reputation for transparency, education, and personalized service—making it one of the most trusted names in the industry.
The Next Step: Secure Your Financial Future
Augusta Precious Metals has helped thousands of Americans with at least $50,000 to invest from their IRAs, 401(K)s, TSPs, and other retirement accounts safeguard their savings through precious metals.
If you’re concerned about what the rising national debt could mean for your future, now is the time to act.
Read this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“ and learn the simple steps you can take to protect your retirement.
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?