WASHINGTON — President Trump said land strikes on drug cartels could hit “anywhere,” including Mexico, and Central and South America.
“We’re going to hit the cartels,” he told The Post in an exclusive Oval Office interview on Friday.
“We know their routes. We know everything about them. We know their homes. We know everything about them. We’re going to hit the cartels.”
And when asked if those strikes could happen anywhere – including on land in Mexico, Venezuela and Colombia – the president responded: “Could be anywhere.”
Most foreign-produced illicit drugs available in the United States are smuggled into the country overland across the borders with Mexico and, to a much lesser extent, Canada, according to the Justice Department.
The president bragged he’s gotten 97 percent of the drugs off the water with the military strikes on drug vessels.
And he said he wants to see the same success “on land.”
The threat comes after U.S. forces struck Venezuela and captured its cartel-facilitating dictator, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores.
And the Trump administration has pressured Mexico to allow U.S. forces entry in order to help curb drug trafficking.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, earlier this month, pushed back against speculation that Trump may launch military strikes in her country against the cartels.
“I don’t believe in an invasion; I don’t even think it’s something they’re taking very seriously,” Sheinbaum said. “On several occasions, he has insisted that the US Army be allowed to enter Mexico. We have said no very firmly — first because we defend our sovereignty, and second because it is not necessary.”
Her country has stepped up its efforts to show it takes drug trafficking seriously.
Mexican Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said on Tuesday that they had sent another 37 detained members of Mexican drug cartels to the United States.
He said Mexico has sent 92 people in total.
