Mexican drug cartels are reportedly on the run as Mexican law enforcement escalates operations in response to President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.

Reports indicate that cartel members have gone into hiding, fearing both Mexican authorities and potential U.S. military action.

According to The New York Times, several cartel members have expressed concerns about their safety, with some taking drastic measures to protect their families.

One high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel told the outlet, “You can’t be calm” or sleep “because you don’t know when they’ll catch you.”

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Others reported selling off property and cutting non-essential personnel to prepare for potential disruptions.

The increased enforcement follows Trump’s announcement of 25 percent tariffs on Mexican goods if the country failed to take decisive action against illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

Trump initially floated the idea after his re-election in November 2024, and after taking office, he set a March 4 deadline for Mexico to demonstrate significant progress.

In response, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has launched a broad crackdown, deploying 10,000 national guard troops to the border and sending additional forces to Sinaloa state, a major hub for fentanyl trafficking.

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The state has been embroiled in cartel violence for months, and the government’s latest actions appear aimed at curbing the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.

The New York Times reported that cartel members are particularly concerned about the possibility of U.S. military intervention, with some fearing airstrikes.

One cartel insider admitted they were trying to figure out how to protect their families “in case the American military” launched strikes inside Mexico.

The Mexican Attorney General’s Office has also confirmed the extradition of 29 criminals to the United States, including a top cartel boss linked to the 1985 murder of DEA Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. This move aligns with Mexico’s heightened enforcement efforts following Trump’s warnings.

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Trump reaffirmed his commitment to the tariff policy in a recent post on Truth Social, stating that “drugs are still pouring” into the U.S. from Mexico and Canada.

He added, “Until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled.”

The crackdown has led to a rapid shift in cartel operations.

Security analyst Jaime López told The New York Times, “Trump established a deadline, and we are seeing the results of everything we could have seen in years being done in a month. The government is sending a message that when it really wants to, it can exert that kind of pressure.”

While Trump’s threats appear to have spurred this wave of enforcement, the Times noted that Sheinbaum had signaled her intent to take on the cartels after assuming office in October 2024.

Whether this level of action will continue remains to be seen, but for now, cartel leaders are feeling the heat.

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