Sen. Husted joins bill to disrupt cartel operations, prevent flow of deadly drugs into U.S.

WASHINGTON – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) joined Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and James Lankford’s (R-Okla.) bipartisan Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act. This bill would increase inspections of traffic going from the U.S. to Mexico, which would help combat the flow of illicit firearms and money that fuel drug cartels.

“As we continue working to secure our southern border, we also need to cut off the weapons and funding that allow drug cartels to operate. Strengthening southbound inspections will help disrupt cartel operations, keep illegal firearms out of their hands and reduce the flow of fentanyl and other deadly drugs into our communities. I will continue supporting commonsense efforts to secure our border and keep Americans safe,” said Husted.

“Dismantling drug cartels requires cutting off the flow of illegal firearms and cartel money moving from the U.S. into Mexico, which help give cartels the resources to continue to operate and flood our communities with deadly drugs. This bipartisan legislation significantly enhances our southbound inspection capabilities, which will help disrupt cartel operations and reduce the trafficking of fentanyl, which has devastated communities across New Hampshire and nationwide,” said Hassan.

“With border crossings at a record low, the results speak for themselves. President Trump’s leadership is making America safer; the southern border is much more secure than it was a year ago. But US Customs and Border Protection still doesn’t have the resources they need to stop gun smuggling to the criminal cartels in Mexico. We need to ensure border law enforcement has the personnel and technology to crack down on criminal activity that puts Americans at risk,” said Lankford.

The Enhancing Southbound Inspections to Combat Cartels Act would:

Require that at least 10% of southbound vehicles are inspected, to the extent practicable.

Authorize at least 100 additional Homeland Security Investigations agents to investigate the smuggling of guns and money from the U.S. into Mexico.

Authorize at least 100 additional Homeland Security Investigations agents to investigate drug smuggling, human trafficking, child trafficking and unauthorized entries from Mexico into the U.S.

Authorize 50 additional x-ray inspection systems for southbound inspections.
 
This bill builds on Husted’s work to stop the flow of fentanyl into American communities. Husted supported the HALT Fentanyl Act, which was signed into law by President Trump. This law makes the temporary class-wide scheduling order for fentanyl-related substances permanent, closing a dangerous loophole that drug traffickers continue to exploit.