How Trumps war on cartel cash can stop fentanyl enablers and save American lives

“China and the Mexican cartels are not trying to create drug addicts — they [are] trying and succeeding at killing off our people — primarily young men.If we were in a traditional war with over 100,000 dying each year from guns and bombs, our citizenry would be demanding that Congress and the president put an end to the war.”— Rebecca Kiessling, mother of two boys killed the same day by fake prescription pills that turned out to be fentanyl.President Trump made history by signing more Day One executive orders than any other president on record.

But for the millions of Americans affected by the fentanyl crisis, one stood out: He ordered international cartels be designated terrorist organizations, unleashing unrestricted financial warfare on Mexican drug organizations, their facilitators and the Chinese money-laundering organizations that move and control the proceeds of fentanyl.This is good news for law enforcement and the countless families who’ve lost their loved ones to fentanyl.Now the Trump administration and Congress must commit the necessary resources to enforce this effort.The fentanyl epidemic on our shores has already claimed nearly half a million American lives and crippled the US health system with trillions in costs — while cartels walk away with billions in profits.

More than 80% of New York City’s thousands of drug overdoses each year involve fentanyl.Victims are often young adults or children seeking to self-treat anxiety or get help concentrating from fake prescription pills they unsuspectingly buy online.The DEA seized enough fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl in 2022 to kill every American — and it’s likely just as many deadly pills made it through.Caleb, 20, and Kyler Kiessling, 18, died along with their friend Sophia Harris, 17, in Michigan after taking what they thought was Percocet.

Kyler had graduated high school just the day before.Logan Rachwal, 19, died in Wisconsin from the same fatal mistake.The Drug Enf...