Mapping the Global Drug Trade: A Modern Perspective

Federal authorities have intensified efforts to combat the trafficking of fentanyl and cocaine into the United States, as the Trump administration prioritizes border security amid an evolving drug smuggling crisis.

One of President Donald Trump’s initial promises upon returning to office was to secure the nation’s borders, with particular focus on stemming the flow of illicit narcotics. Drug trafficking organizations have developed increasingly sophisticated methods, employing high-speed vessels, submarines, and various maritime routes to transport drugs across international waters.

Recent investigations have revealed the complex supply chains behind these deadly substances. According to a Wall Street Journal report, China remains a primary source of precursor chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl. While China classified all fentanyl-related substances as controlled in 2019, effectively reducing direct shipments to the U.S., Chinese suppliers continue exporting chemical precursors to Mexico.

Mexican cartels, primarily the Sinaloa Cartel, have capitalized on this shift, establishing manufacturing operations in Mexico’s Sinaloa state. The finished fentanyl is subsequently smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border, with Arizona’s Nogales Port of Entry serving as a significant transit point.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows approximately 22,000 pounds of fentanyl seized in fiscal year 2024. While fentanyl seizures have declined compared to 2023 figures, cocaine interdictions are trending upward.

Colombia remains the world’s primary cocaine producer, particularly in regions bordering Venezuela and Ecuador. Traffickers employ various methods to move shipments northward, including “go-fast” boats, narco-submarines, cargo vessels, and small aircraft. Key trafficking corridors extend through Ecuador, Venezuela, Central America, and the Caribbean islands.

A 2023 United Nations report estimated that approximately 3,000 tons of Colombian cocaine reached the United States, representing an eightfold increase from 2012 levels. This surge highlights the resilience and adaptability of drug trafficking networks despite increased enforcement efforts.

The Trump administration has responded by expanding military operations targeting narcotics traffickers, especially in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific regions. Reports indicate that the Department of War, under Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, has conducted 16 strikes on suspected narco vessels in South American waters as of November.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention characterizes the current fentanyl crisis as the “third wave” of America’s opioid epidemic, following earlier phases dominated by prescription painkillers in the 1990s and heroin in the early 2010s. Fentanyl-related fatalities increased dramatically between 2011 and 2016, rising from 1,663 to 18,335 deaths annually. Currently, most fentanyl seizures occur at official ports of entry along the southern border.

The financial scale of this illicit trade is substantial. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network identified approximately $1.4 billion in suspected fentanyl-related financial activity in 2024 alone.

Cocaine’s presence in the U.S. drug market dates back to the mid-1980s, when Colombian cartels fueled an epidemic, particularly through the introduction of crack cocaine in urban areas. The Department of Justice confirms that Colombia remains the primary source of cocaine entering the United States, with Mexico serving as a crucial transit country. CBP seized approximately 68,000 pounds of cocaine in fiscal year 2024, with projected seizures of 70,000 pounds in fiscal year 2025.

The impact of these drugs varies geographically across the United States. Fentanyl-related overdose deaths are most prevalent in the eastern United States, particularly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. In 2021, the highest mortality rates were recorded in federal Health and Human Services Regions 1 and 3, encompassing states like Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, and West Virginia.

At the state level, 2022 data shows West Virginia, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Tennessee, and Maine experiencing the highest per capita fentanyl-related death rates. Similarly, cocaine-related overdoses remain concentrated in eastern states, with New England (HHS Region 1) recording approximately 14.8 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2021—the highest rate nationwide.

As trafficking methods continue to evolve, federal authorities face ongoing challenges in disrupting supply chains and preventing these deadly substances from reaching American communities.