MIAMI, Florida — In a significant escalation of the Trump administration’s war on organized crime, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Wednesday the seizure of over $510 million worth of illegal narcotics, intercepted aboard multiple vessels en route to the United States. The seized shipments, which included vast quantities of cocaine and marijuana, were linked to two of the most powerful Mexican cartels: Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa.
Bondi made the announcement at a South Florida port, standing before a U.S. Coast Guard vessel and towering stacks of the confiscated drugs. The display served as a dramatic backdrop for Bondi’s remarks highlighting a key Trump administration priority — dismantling transnational drug trafficking operations that fuel America’s addiction crisis and violent crime.
“This is a major blow to the financial infrastructure of these criminal organizations,” Bondi declared. “Thanks to the brave efforts of our Coast Guard crews, this poison was stopped before it could reach our communities and devastate more families.”
According to officials, the operation utilized ships, aircraft, and drones to intercept drug traffickers off the coasts of Peru, Ecuador, and the Galápagos Islands. These coordinated efforts have already resulted in sealed federal indictments against 11 individuals, with more charges anticipated.
Bondi confirmed that intelligence gathered during the operation linked the drug shipments directly to the Sinaloa cartel, long known for its legacy of narco-violence and international drug trafficking, and the Jalisco New Generation cartel, a rapidly expanding rival considered one of the most dangerous cartels in the Western Hemisphere.
“The Coast Guard’s interception of these shipments likely saved countless American lives,” said Bondi. “This cocaine would have been distributed across our country and perhaps throughout the world.”
This announcement comes in the wake of the Trump administration’s controversial move to designate eight Latin American criminal organizations, including Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation, as “foreign terrorist organizations” — a label typically reserved for militant groups. This classification expands the federal government’s authority to freeze assets, increase criminal penalties, and target international associates of the cartels under counterterrorism laws.
FBI Director Kash Patel, who joined Bondi in Florida, reinforced the administration’s hardline stance. “These groups are not just drug traffickers — they are terrorists,” Patel said. “This designation gives us the tools to go after anyone supporting these cartels, whether they’re in Mexico, Colombia, or on American soil.”
Officials say the seized narcotics were likely bound for distribution networks embedded in major U.S. cities, contributing to the ongoing public health emergency related to drug overdoses and addiction. The Department of Justice has vowed to continue investing in high-tech surveillance and interagency cooperation to prevent illegal drugs from reaching American streets.
Bondi’s appearance served as a powerful reminder of the Trump administration’s aggressive approach to criminal justice, immigration enforcement, and border security — pillars of its broader law-and-order agenda.
