J.D. Vance seeks to enable POTUS to deploy military against Mexican drug cartels.

Ohio Senator Calls for Strong Action Against Mexican Drug Cartels

In a recent appearance on NBC News’s “Meet The Press,” Ohio Republican Senator J.D. Vance expressed his concerns about the increasing power of Mexican drug cartels and called for decisive action to combat them. Vance emphasized the need for strong American leadership to address the fentanyl crisis, which originates from outside the country.

Vance stated, “I want to empower the president of the United States, whether that’s a Democrat or Republican, to use the power of the U.S. military to go after these drug cartels.” He highlighted the significant threat posed by the cartels, describing them as the best-funded criminal terrorist organization in the world.

The senator also pointed out the destabilizing effect of the constant flow of fentanyl on the Mexican government. He warned that if the cartels continue to grow in power, they could surpass the Mexican state itself, drawing parallels to the situation in Colombia when cartels became too dominant.

WATCH: Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance (R) would “empower” a president to use the U.S. military to go after drug cartels.@JDVance1: “You think the fentanyl problem is bad now, what about three years from now when the Mexican drug cartels are more powerful than the Mexican state itself?” pic.twitter.com/rhDWzhJIZ1

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) July 2, 2023

Vance highlighted the alarming increase in drug cartels’ revenue, which has grown fourteen-fold in recent years. He attributed this to “bad border policies” and emphasized the need for the United States to take a firm stance against China and Mexico, the primary sources of fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances entering the country.

To address the issue, Vance suggested exerting economic pressure on China by increasing tariffs and penalizing them for their involvement in the fentanyl trade. He emphasized the importance of holding China accountable and not relying on assumptions of good faith.

The devastating impact of the fentanyl crisis is evident in Ohio, where accidental overdose deaths have skyrocketed by 1,056% since 1999. The state ranks fifth in the nation for overdose deaths, with opioids being involved in 80% of cases. Nationwide, overdose deaths increased by 31% from 2019 to 2020, with fentanyl being the primary cause.

According to the DEA, the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels are responsible for the majority of fentanyl and methamphetamine overdose deaths in the United States. The DEA has made defeating these groups a top operational priority.

Many Republicans, including former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, have advocated for using military force and other strong measures to combat the cartels. Vance’s call for empowering the president to take decisive action reflects the urgency of the situation.

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