U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi voiced strong support for recent DEA operations targeting foreign drug cartels, vowing continued action until such organizations are dismantled. Her comments come as federal agencies increase pressure on criminal networks linked to fentanyl trafficking and cross-border violence.
“We will not rest until these Foreign Terrorist Organizations are eliminated, their members prosecuted or deported, and the public is safe again,” Bondi said in a statement on Tuesday.
The remarks reflect a broader shift in the Justice Department’s strategy, which now explicitly labels certain transnational drug cartels as terrorist threats. The designation allows for expanded legal authority and harsher penalties for individuals tied to these groups.
DEA officials say the crackdown includes increased cooperation with international partners, as well as domestic task forces focused on both enforcement and prevention. Critics have warned of civil liberties risks, while supporters say the urgency of the fentanyl crisis warrants aggressive action.
