President Donald Trump has again criticized his Mexican counterpart, Claudia Sheinbaum, over her handling of criminal and violent organizations causing chaos.
Speaking Friday evening, Trump said Sheinbaum turned down an intervention by the United States when he offered to clear out the groups destabilizing Mexico.
“She should get rid of the cartels because the cartels are running Mexico,” he told reporters at the Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force One.
Sheinbaum recently confirmed rejecting an American military operation: “We said No, proudly No.” She also threatened legal action in response to Elon Musk’s suggestion of cartels ties.
On Thursday, Mexico announced the seizure of 14 million doses of fentanyl and the arrest of six people, as the government ramps up efforts to curtail the flow of the strong opioid.
The drugs were found during raids on a secret drug laboratory and a warehouse in the Villa de Alvarez municipality in the state of Colima, the Public Security ministry informed.
The bust uncovered approximately 270 kilograms of “a substance with characteristics similar to fentanyl, both in powder and pill form,” equivalent to 14 million pills’ worth.
The major operation involved federal and state forces, including the Secretaría de Marina, the Army, the Guardia Nacional, and the Fiscalía General de la República.
At the launch of a 17-country Americas Counter Cartel Coalition last weekend in Florida, President Trump declared that cartels dominate Mexico and vowed to “eradicate” them.
The U.S. continues to target Mexican cartels, including Sinaloa and the Jalisco New Generation, CJNG, whose leader, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, aka “El Mencho,” was killed in February.
On Friday, Sebastián Enrique Marset, a famous Uruguayan alleged drug kingpin wanted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, was captured in Bolivia and extradited to America.
Marset, aka “King of the South,” was apprehended during an operation in the Las Palmas area of Santa Cruz. He faces charges related to international cocaine trafficking and money laundering.
Trump insists cartels run Mexico as Sheinbaum rejects US action
