Cornyn Chairs Drug Caucus Hearing on National Security Threats Posed by Mexican Drug Cartels

Cornyn Chairs Drug Caucus Hearing on National Security Threats Posed by Mexican Drug Cartels News Cornyn Chairs Drug Caucus Hearing on National Security Threats Posed by Mexican Drug Cartels June 24, 2026 Today's hearing looks outward to expose the activities of Mexican drug cartels largely beyond the Western Hemisphere and the web of criminal connections that they have spun around the world. The cartels can fetch approximately double the price for cocaine in Europe compared to sales here in the United States, so it should come as no surprise that the cartels are exploiting the European market, nor is it surprising that the cartels have expanded trafficking to Australia and New Zealand, two of the most lucrative drug markets in the world. Cartels are not merely a U.S. problem or a Mexican problem…they are a global problem. WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) delivered the following opening remarks during the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control hearing he chaired entitled, “Beyond Our Shores: The Global Reach of Mexican Drug Cartels and Risks to U.S. National Security.” Excerpts are below, and video can be found here . “This Caucus’ first two hearings in the 119th Congress focused on the illicit activities of nefarious nature from outside the Western Hemisphere in our own backyard, namely Hezbollah, Chinese-organized criminal groups, but today’s hearing looks outward to expose the activities of Mexican drug cartels largely beyond the Western Hemisphere and the web of criminal connections that they have spun around the world.” “President Trump has made countering the cartels in Mexico a major priority of his second administration.” “Nationwide, fentanyl seizures by the DEA have decreased from a high of 77 million pills and 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder in 2023 to 47 million pills and 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder in 2025.” “The cartels can fetch approximately double the price for cocaine in Europe compared to sales here in the United States, so it should come as no surprise that the cartels are exploiting the European market, nor is it surprising that the cartels have expanded trafficking to Australia and New Zealand, two of the most lucrative drug markets in the world.” “I would understand the temptation to dismiss this as Europe’s problem, or India’s problem, or Africa’s problem, or Australia’s problem, but where do those revenues from the drug sales ultimately flow? Well, they come right back to this continent.” “Cartels are not merely a U.S. problem or a Mexican problem. In other words, they are a global problem. The purpose of today’s hearing is to investigate their worldwide activities. We will explore how the U.S. and other countries have been working to address this threat and will identify opportunities to improve on those efforts.”