President Trump has quietly authorized the U.S. military to use force against Latin American drug cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations, reports revealed Friday. This marks his most aggressive move yet against gangs trafficking drugs like fentanyl across the U.S.-Mexico border, a mission traditionally handled by federal law enforcement.

The New York Times reported that the order grants U.S. forces authority to act against cartels both on land and at sea. A White House source emphasized Trump’s determination to not just dismantle but “completely destroy” Venezuela’s Cartel de Los Soles and their operations in the Western Hemisphere.

The State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations involved in drug trafficking includes Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, Cartel de Los Soles, and El Salvador’s Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). Trump previously suggested military action against cartels in Mexico during his 2024 campaign and has increased tariffs on Canada and Mexico to pressure them to curb drug and human smuggling.

Since returning to office, Trump has pledged to seize cartel assets and redirect funds to families affected by what he calls “migrant crime.” Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, in power since 2013, has been a central target. Recently, the Justice and State Departments announced a \$50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest on drug trafficking charges.

This multi-agency campaign includes the Departments of Defense, Justice, Homeland Security, Treasury, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Deputy White House press secretary Anna Kelly stated that Trump’s top priority is protecting the homeland by designating several cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.