The World Cup offers millions of fans around the globe a chance to travel and experience different cultures. For the Drug Enforcement Administration and its administrator, Terrance Cole, it also presents an opportunity for drug trafficking organizations to move illicit substances into the United States amid a surge in international travel.
In an interview with NewsNation, Cole said U.S. authorities are continuously monitoring criminal organizations because of the arrival of millions of visitors from around the world, as criminal groups tend to use foreign nationals to do their bidding.
"The cartels are always going to look for the profit," Cole said. "That's all they're concerned about. They're not concerned about anything else. They're not concerned about the loss of life in the United States; they're not concerned about the health effects; they're not concerned with the violence associated with fentanyl. It's about one thing. Profit and money."
Cole said the combination of large crowds, increased international travel and heightened commercial activity requires law enforcement agencies to strengthen their efforts to combat the drug. For that reason, the DEA has expanded its public awareness campaign about the dangers of fentanyl.
In a statement released June 11, the day the World Cup kicked off, the agency said fentanyl remains the leading cause of death among Americans ages 18 to 44, accounting for approximately 200 deaths each day.
The DEA also said fentanyl is becoming increasingly unpredictable and deadly, citing information from a Public Safety Advisory issued by the agency last month. According to the advisory, the drug is now being mixed with other synthetic substances, including xylazine, nitazenes, cychlorphine and medetomidine, many of which are difficult to detect and are not approved for human consumption.
During the interview, Cole said Mexican authorities have "stepped up their game" in the fight against drug cartels but argued that significant challenges remain as Americans continue to die from illicit drug trafficking.
The U.S.-Mexico border has seen an increased DEA presence as the agency adopts a more aggressive strategy aimed at reducing the flow of fentanyl into the United States.
"I am dedicated to staffing the border, 100%. That's never been done before in the history of the DEA. And it's going to require a transformational change at DEA," Cole said. "But that's what we're up for. We're up to protect Americans, defend our national security, and we need to be here at the border."
