Thank you. So, I'll be honest to you guys, and you promise to be honest to me, right? Who has ever tried cocaine? Well, well, statistically, some of you are not telling the truth. Let me ask you another question. How many of you have ever been to a party where someone was taking cocaine? All right, that's most of you. Because the fact is we're living in the golden age of cocaine. Never before had there been more consumption of cocaine, more production of cocaine than right now. It's in the streets out here. ...

Trump has attacked "meatpacking cartels" for high beef prices and vowed to have his DOJ investigate. Don't hold your breath, writes @patricialopez_4 (via @opinion) https://t.co/6xqIUJf0ar ...

The Senate is going to vote later today on a bipartisan bill to block the US US military from conducting strikes against Venezuela without approval from Congress. The administration so far has launched 16 strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific, alleging without evidence that those boats were trafficking drugs to the United States. The US military is also building up forces in the waters off South America as the president considers strikes within Venezuela.A similar vote on a similar war power ...

The US military struck a suspected drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, expanding a controversial campaign against cartels that had been so far limited to the Caribbean Sea https://t.co/AXTGEVHZ3s ...

Exclusive: Classified Justice Department opinion authorizes strikes on secret list of cartels, sources say https://t.co/DQtl0NaTs6 ...

Exclusive: Classified Justice Department opinion authorizes strikes on secret list of cartels, sources say https://t.co/oq9RQxtSow ...

Political Landscape - Ecuador will hold a vote in November on rewriting the constitution [1] - President Daniel Noboa states this is needed to combat cartels and restore order [1]

Political & Security Risks - WSJopinion reports a former Mexican government official's arrest on charges of operating a criminal network, suggesting potential cartel involvement in Mexican politics [1] - The situation raises concerns about the rule of law and security risks in Mexico [1] Geopolitical Implications - The article highlights potential instability and corruption within the Mexican government [1] - The situation could impact international relations and trade with Mexico [1]

Drug Trafficking Trends - Significant quantities of cocaine and fentanyl were observed at sea [1] - Authorities possess recorded evidence regarding departure times and cargo details of drug shipments [1] - A noticeable absence of ships at sea suggests a potential disruption in maritime drug trafficking routes [1][2] - The shift in trafficking routes from sea to land is observed [2] Law Enforcement Actions - Law enforcement is committed to intercepting drug cartels operating on land, mirroring efforts at sea [2]

Geopolitical & Security Risks - US launched a strike against a Venezuelan vessel allegedly carrying drugs in the southern Caribbean [1] - The strike resulted in 11 deaths [1] - The Trump administration is increasingly hostile toward the Venezuelan regime, accusing President Nicolas Maduro of leading a drug cartel [2][3] - The US State Department is offering a hefty reward for Maduro's arrest [3] - The Defense Secretary suggested more strikes against cartels are possible [4] Drug Trafficking & Law Enforcement - The Venezuelan vessel was carrying massive amounts of drugs intended for the US [4][5] - The US has tapes of the individuals on the boat [4] - The strike is described as unprecedented, differing from past law enforcement operations involving the Coast Guard [5][6] - A significant amount of cocaine entering the US comes over land and on the Pacific side of Mexico and Latin America, not just through the Caribbean [6]