Sanctuary policies fuel Latin American gangs smuggling drugs, endangering Americans: former DEA agent

Latin American gangs person gained expanding crushed connected U.S. soil, fueling unit and cause trafficking, arsenic communities grapple with amerciable migration and cause trafficking networks.

Fox News Digital spoke with erstwhile Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Senior Special Agent Michael Brown, who is the planetary manager of counter-narcotics exertion astatine Rigaku Analytical Devices, astir the interaction of Latin American gangs connected U.S. communities.

"You person this unthinkable narco structure, this narco state, pushing aggregate tons of narcotics into the United States, which drives U.S. cause trafficking and organization-based violence," helium said.

Brown said that cartels are not conscionable street-level groups, but highly organized transgression enterprises that power cause trafficking and prosecute successful convulsive turf wars.

FEDS LIKELY EYEING ‘COVER-UPS’ TO BUST MEXICAN CARTELS ALONG BORDER: FORMER DEA AGENT

MS-13, oregon the Mara Salvatrucha, is believed by national prosecutors to person thousands of members nationwide. (Getty Images)

Brown emphasized the relation of Mexican cartels, similar Sinaloa and Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), successful controlling however drugs travel into U.S. streets, peculiarly fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. Cartels predominate the cause commercialized and are liable for the bulk of narcotics-related unit crossed North America, Brown said.

"In presumption of narcotics trafficking and quality trafficking, Sinaloa is astir apt possibly the king throne successful this game," helium said. "And CJNG is the 2nd runner-up, attempting to beryllium fig one."

He said the Sinaloa and CJNG gangs are liable for moving 85-90% of each illicit drugs into the U.S.

"Affiliate organizations, which are acceptable up successful each large metropolis successful the U.S., service narcotics to the section trafficking organization," helium said. "These would beryllium your organized transgression groups, specified arsenic the Italian oregon Albanian groups."

While Mexico serves arsenic the superior shaper and transit constituent for drugs, countries similar Brazil and Colombia play cardinal roles successful moving drugs to planetary markets. Brown highlighted however Brazil acts arsenic a hub for narcotics from Colombia and Peru, which are past sent to assorted destinations similar the U.S., Europe and Australia.

Gang members hold to beryllium taken to their cells aft 2,000 pack members were transferred to the Terrorism Confinement Center, according to El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, successful Tecoluca, El Salvador, successful this handout distributed to Reuters connected Feb. 24, 2023. (Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia/Handout via REUTERS )

The relation of sanctuary cities

Sanctuary cities, Brown said, exacerbate pack unit and supply an situation that allows transgression organizations to thrive. 

"If you spell to a sanctuary metropolis successful New York oregon successful Chicago, you're going to get a cheque for housing, for food. They're going to get a cellphone, they're going to get car insurance," helium said. "So if you're a pack member, you simply spell determination and connect yourself to that wealth train."

MEXICAN IMMIGRATION ACTIVIST WHO HID IN COLORADO CHURCH FOR YEARS TO AVOID DEPORTATION ARRESTED BY ICE

He shared that cartels person turned to "grassroots recruitment" tactics to draught successful migrants.

"You person unspeakable policies successful sanctuary cities, which, successful my opinion, are wholly enabling organizations, specified arsenic Tren De Aragua (TdA) to relation arsenic parasitic transgression organizations," helium said. "And wrong these [migrant] communities, they successful astir cases won't study the crimes due to the fact that they are illegal, and they don't privation the constabulary to come. It's not worthy the hazard for them."

This representation shows 2 pack members caught astatine the confederate border. (U.S. Border Patrol)

He said that the African American and Latino communities, driven successful portion by economical hardships, crook to the allure of accelerated wealth and fame. Brown linked the glamorization of pack civilization to the prevalence of fashionable media, similar rap music.

"I deliberation erstwhile we look astatine American pack unit successful narcotics, you person to look astatine what it is associated with and wherefore is it truthful fashionable present to beryllium a gangster," helium said. "What is your relation successful young African-American men and Hispanic men successful these gangs? They privation to marque accelerated money, and privation the glory associated with it," helium said.

'ON NOTICE': EX-VENEZUELAN MILITARY OFFICIAL APPLAUDS TRUMP'S 'FIRST GOOD STEP' TARGETING BLOODTHIRSTY GANG

"Unfortunately, there's nary different taste radical extracurricular chiefly African-Americans and Latinos who aspire to marque euphony similar this."

WATCH: NYC harbors 'gangs, cartel members' successful migrant hotels, says DHS official

Latin American gangs:

1. MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) – This pack originated successful California but has a important beingness successful respective Latin American countries, including El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. They are progressive successful cause trafficking, extortion and quality trafficking. MS-13 is notorious for its brutal violence, including wide murders, mutilations and beheadings.
2. 18th Street Gang (Barrio 18) – Another pack that originated successful the U.S. and has expanded into Central America, particularly successful El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. This pack is progressive successful akin transgression activities arsenic MS-13 and often engages successful convulsive turf wars with rival gangs.
3. Sinaloa cartel – The Sinaloa cartel is 1 of the astir almighty and convulsive transgression organizations successful Latin America. They power cause trafficking routes and are progressive successful monolithic planetary commercialized of amerciable drugs. They are besides notorious for assassinations and killings.
4. Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) – One of the astir almighty and convulsive cartels successful Mexico, CJNG is liable for galore killings, including the execution of constabulary officers and rival cartel members.
5. Los Zetas – Los Zetas became 1 of the deadliest and astir feared cartels successful Mexico. They are infamous for their brutal tactics, including massacres, decapitations and torture. They are progressive successful cause trafficking, extortion, and kidnapping.
6. Mara 18 Revolucionaria – Similar to MS-13 and Barrio 18, this radical operates successful Central America and is known for convulsive clashes with rival groups, on with engagement successful assorted transgression enterprises similar quality trafficking and cause smuggling.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP