Cartels exert "tremendous control" over Mexico: Trump; signs anti-fentanyl law

MEXICO CITY (apro).- President Donald Trump signed the law Wednesday to stop the lethal trafficking of fentanyl, which reclassifies the opioid and toughens penalties for traffickers.

“Today, we strike a fair blow against drug traffickers, drug dealers, and criminal cartels... and take a historic step toward justice for every family affected by the scourge of fentanyl,” Trump said at the White House.

At the ceremony, the president accused, "to put it mildly," that criminal organizations exert "tremendous control" over Mexico.

"I'm trying to be diplomatic. They have a strong hold on Mexico, and we need to do something about it," he said in his speech.

"Mexican authorities are petrified; they're afraid to show up at their offices, they're afraid to go to work because the cartels control the politicians and the people who were elected," he warned.

#ALMOMENTO | Trump accuses Mexican cartels of having “tremendous control” in Mexico.

The US president claimed that cartels have influence "over politicians and elected officials" in the country. pic.twitter.com/QuZy2aets5

— Azucena Uresti (@azucenau) July 16, 2025