Former DEA chief urges Mexico to use U.S. military resources against cartels

Derek Maltz Jr., former interim director of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), has called on Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to utilize specialized U.S. military resources to combat organized crime.

Maltz suggested that Mexico could request intelligence, surveillance, and logistical support from the United States armed forces, provided such assistance is fully coordinated with Mexican authorities and respects national sovereignty. He emphasized that dismantling criminal organizations requires targeting the “protection networks” that enable them, alleging that corrupt officials and politicians provide conscious support to cartel operations.

Maltz noted that while Sheinbaum has rejected unilateral U.S. military intervention in Mexican territory, she should consider expanding bilateral security cooperation. He urged the administration to prioritize public and national security over political considerations to help “annihilate the cartels of terror.”