A senior figure in the Sinaloa Cartel told CNN that President Donald Trump’s border policies have made it harder for the criminal organization to operate and smuggle people into the United States.
The interview was conducted by CNN correspondent David Culver, who spoke with the cartel member while he wore a black mask, sunglasses, a hat, and gloves to conceal his identity.
“Do you think what President Trump has been doing has been making your job tougher?” Culver asked.
“Oh yeah. Yeah,” the gang member responded bluntly.
When Culver asked again if it had become more difficult under the current administration, the gang member reiterated, “Yep.”
Culver reported that Trump’s immigration enforcement has left cartels “increasingly desperate.” He explained that the price charged to migrants being smuggled has risen sharply.
“You heard that cartel boss say that his job is getting tougher. And because of that, officials say cartels are now charging much more to get migrants across. It‘s jumped from about $6,500 a person that they were charging earlier this year to now nearly $10,000 that they‘re charging, according to the deputies,” Culver said. “A lot of migrants simply cannot afford that.”
CNN further noted that cartels are forcing those who cannot pay into debt bondage, where they must work for the organization until their smuggling costs are covered.
Despite acknowledging his involvement in killings, the cartel leader insisted he saw himself as a good person and tried to discourage others from joining gangs
“It’s not a life. It’s not good,” he said in English before adding in Spanish, “Once you get in, you can’t get out.”
This is not the first time cartel figures have credited Trump’s policies with disrupting trafficking networks. Last month, Margarito “Jay” Flores Jr, who, alongside his twin brother, made millions working for El Chapo’s cartel, told Fox News that Trump’s approach had a significant impact.
“I think the aggressive approach is going to send a strong message to every drug trafficker across Latin America and places like Venezuela that’s used as a transport hub from Mexican cartels and Colombian organizations,” Flores said.
