Trump Claims U.S. Drug Seizures by Water Down 97% Before Targeting Land Routes

By Charlie McCarthy | Thursday, January 29, 2026

President Donald Trump announced during a Cabinet meeting that illegal drugs entering the United States via sea have dropped “97%,” stating the administration’s aggressive maritime strategy has disrupted cartel trafficking routes and now shifts focus to land-based smuggling.

” As you know, it’s 97% down by water,” Trump said, adding that stopping drugs at sea was “the more difficult route.” He declared, “we’re starting to do that by land also.”

The president framed the effort as a life-and-death mission, asserting drug traffickers are “coming in and killing our people” and claiming the true annual death toll from narcotics is far higher than commonly reported. Trump also highlighted progress against maritime threats, noting Somali piracy has “essentially stopped” after U.S. warnings that hijackers would face the same “ultimate treatment” as drug traffickers.

The president emphasized that global shipping lanes—once where ships were taken “every single” week—are now safer because pirates know any movement toward a vessel will be met with overwhelming force.

This renewed focus on land-based smuggling aligns with federal data showing America’s drug pipeline has grown increasingly complex. U.S. Customs and Border Protection regularly posts drug seizure statistics across ports of entry, while the Drug Enforcement Administration warns synthetic drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine remain central threats as trafficking networks adapt routes to evade authorities.

A recent Government Accountability Office report examined Department of Homeland Security seizure data and federal efforts against illicit fentanyl trafficking into the United States. Trump’s remarks reflect a broader administration message that deterrence, including robust interdiction at sea, can choke off supply before it reaches American streets.

The U.S. Coast Guard has conducted major counterdrug operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific with record-sized maritime seizures. Conservatives have long advocated for relentless enforcement against cartels, and Trump echoed this theme during his remarks, stating each drug load stopped prevents untold harm and promising expanded action against “land” routes.

For the White House, the message is clear: The era of permissive borders and cartel impunity is over, and the administration intends to target traffickers wherever they operate—sea or land.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.