Senator says growing cartel control of Mexico creates bigger border problems for U.S.

Drug cartel control of Mexico has reached levels comparable to ISIS’ peak in Syria, U.S. Sen. James Lankford said Monday. “Forty to 45 percent of Mexico is ungoverned or run by the cartels,” Lankford said. “ISIS at its height in Syria controlled 50 to 60 percent. There are 15,000 fighters working for the cartels.” Speaking by telephone from Houston after three days spent meeting with Mexican and Central American leaders, Lankford’s comments highlighted the criminal side of border security at a time when most discussions focus on immigration. Lankford said the proliferation of Mexican heroin and fentanyl production is creating new interdiction challenges at the border. “Four days ago, 100 pounds of fentanyl was seized coming into the U.S.,” Lankford said. “This is an enormous amount of fentanyl.” Because of its potency, even 10 pounds of the drug has enormous street value — and it’s very easy to smuggle, he said. Entwined with this booming new drug trade is a power struggle within and among the cartels, triggered in large part by successful prosecution of drug kingpins. The result has been a splintering of the cartels as underlings fight each other for control. “We’re seeing cartels that are more violent, and there are more of them,” Lankford said...more