President Donald Trump has his sights set on drug cartels, according to his administration.
A memo was sent by the Trump administration to Congress Thursday. The memo stated the United States is now “in a non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels, per Fox News.
Administration officials have classified these cartels as “terrorist organizations.”
“The President directed these actions consistent with his responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to his constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct foreign relations,” the memo read.
Democrats on certain key committees have alleged the administration is exceeding its powers in using the military against the cartels. This includes recent strikes that the administration claim were drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean.
“The cartels involved have grown more armed, well-organized, and violent,” the memo said. “They have the financial means, sophistication, and paramilitary capabilities needed to operate with impunity.”
“They illegally and directly cause the deaths of tens of thousands of American citizens each year,” the memo continued. “Although friendly foreign nations have made significant efforts to combat these organizations, suffering significant losses of life, these groups are now transnational and conduct ongoing attacks throughout the Western Hemisphere in the form of organized cartels. Therefore, the President determined these cartels are non-state armed groups, designated them as terrorist organizations, and determined that their actions constitute an armed attack against the United States.”
The memo mentions the Sept. 15 strike.
“The vessel was assessed by the U.S. intelligence community to be affiliated with a designated terrorist organization and, at the time, engaged in trafficking illicit drugs, which could eventually kill Americans,” it said.
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Trump has said he plans to have the U.S. military deal with drug cartels in light of a buildup in the Caribbean.
He also agreed to a series of U.S. military strikes against alleged drug vessels from Venezuela to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S.
The administration has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of being a key figure in a “narco-terrorism” conspiracy and leading a drug cartel.
The Justice Department has placed a $50 million bounty on him.
