In an assertive move during the initial phase of President Trump's tenure, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has initiated a robust "pressure campaign" against violent drug cartels that threaten American communities. This initiative is part of a broader effort to fulfill the President's vision of bolstering national safety, prosperity, and economic revival.
Scott Bessent, serving as Treasury Secretary, articulated on Tuesday the strides made by the administration in enacting policies that contribute to what he deems a new era of American affluence. "President Trump has outlined a vision for a stronger, safer, and more prosperous America, and I am honored to work for him in implementing this vision," Bessent stated, expressing pride in the administration's economic strategy.
The Treasury's approach integrates various policy elements that synergize to rejuvenate American manufacturing and restore economic autonomy. Bessent elaborated, "The three components of the Trump economic agenda — tariffs, tax cuts, and deregulation — are not standalone policies. They are interlocking parts of an engine designed to drive economic growth and domestic manufacturing." These elements are crafted to function collectively, with tax cuts and savings from deregulation intended to increase real income for families and businesses, while tariffs and deregulation jointly stimulate reindustrialization and fair trade.
Additionally, Bessent highlighted the Treasury's commitment to countering the affordability crisis and enhancing the agency's efficiency and transparency. These initiatives aim to maximize the impact of taxpayer dollars for the American people.
On the enforcement front, the Treasury has taken decisive actions against criminal organizations along the southern border, a top priority since the administration's inception. Breitbart News reported on the Treasury's "maximum pressure campaign on cartels," focusing on closing financial crime loopholes that facilitate drug trafficking and human smuggling into the U.S.
Significant enforcement measures include a $37 million civil penalty by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) against Brink's Global Services USA, Inc. for Bank Secrecy Act violations. This represents one of the largest fines of its kind in recent history. Following that, FinCEN issued a Geographic Targeting Order to tighten scrutiny on suspicious financial transactions in cartel-active border regions.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) recently sanctioned a principal figure in the Guatemala-based Lopez Human Smuggling Organization, freezing any U.S. assets and barring business with Americans. "Today's action underscores the Trump Administration’s commitment to targeting the criminal actors like Hernandez Perez and the Lopez Human Smuggling Organization that perpetuate the illegal migration crisis and threaten the safety and security of Americans," Bessent remarked.
As the first 100 days drew to a close, OFAC also imposed sanctions on key members of the Beltran Leyva Organization and La Nueva Familia Michoacana, marking a continued effort to dismantle the financial networks of these dangerous cartels.
