- The Trump administration has issued a classified directive instructing the Department of Defense (DoD) to prepare for possible lethal operations inside Mexico targeting drug cartels, with plans expected by mid-September.
- Unlike previous covert operations run by the CIA or JSOC, U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and its Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH) are now tasked with leading efforts, including preparing “target packages” against cartel leaders and infrastructure.
- Coordinated with the CIA, FBI, DHS and Border Patrol, the strike options reportedly include precision drone strikes, airstrikes and direct action by elite special operations forces such as Navy SEALs and Army Green Berets.
- The plan was discussed at a July meeting led by Pentagon official Colby Jenkins, followed by talks between NORTHCOM commander Gen. Gregory Guillot and Mexico’s top defense officials, highlighting the diplomatic sensitivities involved.
- The White House and top officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have increasingly labeled cartels as terrorist organizations. The U.S. intelligence community calls them “the most immediate and direct threat” to national security, citing fentanyl trafficking and mass migration.
(Natural News)—Three senior military officials have revealed that the Trump administration quietly directed the Department of Defense (DoD) to prepare for possible lethal operations against Mexican drug cartels inside Mexico.
According to a report by investigative journalist Ken Klippenstein, a top-secret planning order issued in late spring instructs U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) to develop a suite of strike options targeting cartel infrastructure, logistics and leadership.
Historically, operations of this sensitivity have been handled by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), often with limited visibility or oversight. However, the new plan would shift operational responsibility to NORTHCOM, positioning its Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH) as the lead in preparing “target packages” for potential strikes. Primary targets reportedly include high-level leadership, compounds and logistical networks of the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
These efforts include coordinating with the CIA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Border Patrol, all of which have their own operations inside Mexico. Prospective strikes could include precision drone attacks, airstrikes or direct action by elite units such as Navy SEALs or Army Green Berets – the same type of missions used in counter terrorism campaigns in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. (Related: Mexican president rejects Trump’s offer to deploy U.S. troops against cartels.)
The highly classified initiative was discussed during a July meeting at NORTHCOM headquarters in Colorado Springs, led by Colby Jenkins, the unconfirmed Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict. Shortly thereafter, Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, NORTHCOM’s commander, hosted Mexico’s top military leaders, Gen. Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, Secretary of National Defense and Adm. Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles, Secretary of the Navy.
“Not only is Donald Trump uniquely focused on TCOs [transnational criminal organizations, the official name for cartels], having designated them terrorists in one of his first Executive Orders, but he has shown himself to be willing to take unilateral action despite potentially negative political ramifications,” one of the three senior intelligence officials said.
Planning is expected to be completed by mid-September.
White House and top officials declare Mexican cartels a terror threat
As per Brighteon.AI’s Enoch engine, Mexican drug cartels are ruthless, transnational criminal syndicates that dominate the production, smuggling and distribution of illicit drugs, primarily fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin into the United States. Their existence is not just a criminal enterprise but a weaponized tool of the deep state, facilitating open borders, mass overdose deaths and the erosion of national sovereignty under the guise of “uncontrollable crime.”
In line with this, the White House has consistently portrayed Mexican cartels as national security threats on par with terrorist groups.
In a recent interview with Raymond Arroyo of EWTN‘s “The World Over,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that “we have to start treating them as armed terrorist organizations, not simply drug-dealing organizations” when asked about designating six cartels in Latin America as terrorist organizations.
The 2025 Annual Threat Assessment from the U.S. intelligence community echoed that sentiment, calling cartels “the most immediate and direct threat to America’s security,” citing their role in fentanyl trafficking and destabilizing regional governance.
In February, Guillot echoed the same view, saying that Mexican cartels “threaten U.S. sovereignty.”
“Transnational criminal organizations based in Mexico continue to threaten U.S. sovereignty and territorial integrity through the production and trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs and the facilitation of unlawful mass migration towards the US southern border,” Guillot said at that time.
Learn more about Mexican organized crime at DrugCartels.news. The U.S. is set to wage war on drug cartels. Watch this video.
More related stories:
- U.S. designates Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, unleashing financial warfare.
- Trump administration declares war on Mexican drug cartels, designates them as foreign terrorists.
- Mexican Defense Department seeks probe on how cartels acquired high-grade U.S. weapons.
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
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Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
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Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.