Sadly, this is how we know that Trump's immigration and border policies are having an impact. It was a given that when the human trafficking pipelines were shut down, which were extremely profitable, the cartels, along with other networks, were forced to concentrate more effort into drug smuggling to make up for the deficit. Trump team expected it and I think that was a big reason why operations were increased in the Gulf as well as other routes of contraband smuggling across the Southern border. Canada may also have increased activity as the South is being choked off.
The cartel revenue stream is drying up, which in turn leads to internal violence over what is left of the pie. Things, especially in Mexico, are going to probably get much worse until something breaks. Either Mexico fights back against the cartels, or they implode. The same holds true for other Latin American countries. I expect it is going to get really ugly in the South over the next several years.
Sadly, this is how we know that Trump's immigration and border policies are having an impact. It was a given that when the human trafficking pipelines were shut down, which were extremely profitable, the cartels, along with other networks, were forced to concentrate more effort into drug smuggling to make up for the deficit. Trump team expected it and I think that was a big reason why operations were increased in the Gulf as well as other routes of contraband smuggling across the Southern border. Canada may also have increased activity as the South is being choked off.
The cartel revenue stream is drying up, which in turn leads to internal violence over what is left of the pie. Things, especially in Mexico, are going to probably get much worse until something breaks. Either Mexico fights back against the cartels, or they implode. The same holds true for other Latin American countries. I expect it is going to get really ugly in the South over the next several years.