The Evolution of U.S.-Mexico Counter-Narcotics Operations

From Operation Snowcap to Trump 2.0’s Cartel Crackdown

For decades, the United States has been engaged in a war against drug cartels, which evolved from South American cocaine producers into powerful, highly militarized organizations operating primarily in Mexico. While early U.S. efforts focused on disrupting drug production in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia, the unintended consequence was that Mexican cartels rose to dominance, controlling trafficking routes and increasing their power through brutality, corruption, and money-laundering networks.

Over the years, the U.S. has tried various strategies to counter the growing cartel threat. From military-style interventions like Operation Snowcap to economic sanctions, intelligence operations, and failed policies like Operation Fast and Furious, each administration has attempted to tackle the issue differently.

Now, with Donald Trump returning for a second term in 2025, the U.S. has officially designated Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs)—a move that signals a new level of aggression in the drug war. But before looking at Trump’s next steps, here is a list of past operations shaping the modern fight against cartels.

1. Early U.S. Drug War Operations: From South America to Mexico

Operation Snowcap (1987–1995): Cocaine Wars in the Andes

Before Mexican cartels dominated the global drug trade, the U.S. focused its efforts on South America, where cocaine production was concentrated in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. Operation Snowcap, launched in 1987, was one of the largest U.S. counter-narcotics programs abroad, with DEA-trained foreign law enforcement targeting cocaine production at its source.

• Raids targeted coca plantations, processing labs, and hidden airstrips to disrupt trafficking routes.

• The DEA deployed over 140 agents annually to work alongside South American forces.

• While the operation weakened some drug networks, it failed to completely eliminate cocaine trafficking.

The unintended consequence? Mexican cartels stepped into the power vacuum.

Operation Intercept (1969): Nixon’s Failed Border Crackdown

Before Snowcap, U.S. policymakers attempted a heavy-handed approach to fighting drug smuggling. Under President Richard Nixon, Operation Intercept was launched in 1969, implementing aggressive border inspections to curb marijuana smuggling from Mexico.

• Severe delays in border crossings led to massive economic losses, angering businesses on both sides.

• The operation only lasted three weeks due to backlash, showing that strict border enforcement alone couldn’t stop drug flows.

Operation Condor (1970s–1980s)

With U.S. funding and intelligence, Mexico launched Operation Condor, its first large-scale military campaign against drug production in Sinaloa, Guerrero, and Durango.

• The Mexican military targeted opium and marijuana fields, but success was limited due to deep corruption within Mexico’s government.

• By the 1980s, drug traffickers consolidated power under the Guadalajara Cartel, which controlled trafficking routes into the U.S.

2. U.S. Directly Targets Mexican Cartels (1980s–1990s)

Operation Leyenda (1985–1990): Retaliation for Kiki Camarena

The U.S. DEA’s fight against Mexican cartels got personal after the kidnapping, torture, and murder of DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena in 1985 by the Guadalajara Cartel.

Operation Leyenda was the largest homicide investigation the U.S. ever conducted outside its borders, aiming to bring those responsible to justice.

• The U.S. pressured Mexico to arrest cartel leaders, leading to high-profile captures.

• The Guadalajara Cartel fragmented, giving rise to new rival cartels, including Sinaloa and Tijuana.

• The operation exposed high-level corruption within Mexico’s government, straining U.S.-Mexico relations.

Operation Casablanca (1998): Cracking Down on Money Laundering

The largest money laundering sting in U.S. history was not about drug seizures, but cartel finances. Operation Casablanca targeted Mexican and Colombian drug cartels laundering money through Mexican banks.

• The U.S. infiltrated banking networks, leading to 160 arrests and the seizure of over $100 million.

• The operation again revealed deep corruption within Mexican financial institutions, forcing reforms.

3. Post-9/11 Shift: Militarization of the Drug War (2000s-Present)

Plan Mérida (2008–Present): Billions in U.S. Aid to Mexico

Signed in 2008 under George W. Bush and continued by Obama, Trump, and Biden, the Mérida Initiative provided $3 billion in U.S. funding, training, and equipment to help Mexico fight cartels.

• Drones, surveillance tech, and military training were provided to Mexican security forces.

• Cartel violence exploded as Mexico increased military crackdowns, leading to mass killings.

• The fragmentation of cartels led to smaller, more violent groups, like CJNG (Jalisco New Generation Cartel).

  *Note that Ukraine’s response fund is just north of 180 billion dollar. Plan Mérida got less than 2 percent of what ukraine got.

Operation Fast and Furious (2006–2011)

One of the biggest U.S. blunders in the drug war, Operation Fast and Furious, was a botched ATF operation designed to track cartel gun purchases.

• U.S. authorities allowed thousands of firearms to be sold to cartel members, hoping to track them.

• Many weapons disappeared, later being used in violent crimes

• The scandal damaged U.S.-Mexico relations, and led to Congressional investigations…which led to almost nothing.

4. Trump’s First Term (2017–2021)

Trump’s Strategy Against Cartels

• Threatened military intervention in Mexico to combat cartels.

• Pushed for designating cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) (but ultimately did not implement it).

• Launched Operation Python (2019), the largest DEA crackdown on CJNG cartel operations.

• Hamped by domestic politics, nothing really go done

5. Biden’s Approach (2021–2025)

• Less focus on cartel crackdowns and more emphasis on fentanyl regulation.

• Weakened U.S.-Mexico cooperation as Mexican President AMLO kicked out DEA agents/ He claims he didn’t

• Cartels expanded fentanyl production, making it the leading cause of overdose deaths in the U.S.

• Frankly, Biden administration was extremely weak on this.

6. Trump 2.0 (2025–2029): New Phase of the Cartel Fight

With Trump's return in 2025, he has officially designated Mexican cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), opening the door for direct military action.

Potential Strategies Under Trump 2.0:

• Drone strikes and special forces operations in cartel-controlled regions.

• Expanded U.S. intelligence operations inside Mexico.

• Sanctions against Mexican officials suspected of cartel ties.

Challenges of Military Action in Mexico:

• Mexico strongly opposes direct U.S. intervention.

• Cartels threaten retaliation if the U.S. escalates military actions.

• Potential destabilization of Mexico, leading to a refugee crisis.

With Trump’s return, a new chapter in the drug war is unfolding—one that may involve the most aggressive U.S. actions. Whether this will cripple cartel operations or simply trigger more violence, who knows.

What do you think?

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