Trump's Anti-Immigration Efforts Fuel Rise of Mexico's Top Drug Kingpin

Strategic Insights -

As the Trump administration focused its efforts on deporting illegal immigrants, it inadvertently created an environment that allowed Mexico's top drug kingpin, Nemesio "Mencho" Osegura, to take control of the cocaine trade in the United States. The widespread availability of high-quality cocaine has driven the price down to $60 a gram, roughly half of what it was five years ago, leading to a surge in consumption in the western U.S. Americans in this region are now consuming 154% more cocaine than they were in 2019.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump administration's decision to move federal agents away from combating drug trafficking to deporting illegal immigrants has given drug cartels, like the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a relatively easy time getting cocaine into the United States.
  • The price of cocaine has fallen dramatically, from a high of $120 a gram five years ago to $60 a gram, driving up consumption in the western U.S. by 154% since 2019.
  • The Trump administration's focus on deporting immigrants has given CJNG leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, a.k.a. "El Mencho," a significant advantage, allowing him to rise to the top of Mexico's drug trade.
  • The U.S. Department of State has increased the reward for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of CJNG leader Oseguera to up to $15 million.
  • The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, under Oseguera's leadership, has become one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world, with Oseguera described as "the most powerful drug trafficker operating in the world."

Statistics:

  • The price of cocaine has fallen to $60 a gram, roughly half of what it was five years ago (The Wall Street Journal, 2024)
  • Americans in the western U.S. are consuming 154% more cocaine than they were in 2019 (The Wall Street Journal, 2024)
  • The reward for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of CJNG leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, a.k.a. "El Mencho," has been increased to up to $15 million by the U.S. Department of State (INL, 2024)
  • 6.2 million deportations have been performed in the United States by the ICE under the leadership of President Trump (ICE).

Sources:

  • https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/mexico-drugs-cartel-oseguera-trump-586f0cec?st=PCGcVC&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
  • https://twitter.com/StateDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
  • https://t.co/6eU7cUoLEI
  • https://t.co/ukNisDTUyC
  • https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-anti-immigration-campaign-has-made-cocaine-cheaper/