Arizona Governor Takes Action Against Cartels and Drug Smuggling

Yuma, Pima, Santa Cruz, and Cochise.

Governor Hobbs, a Democrat, emphasized that this initiative will enable her administration to collaborate with the federal government and local sheriffs to "keep criminals and drugs out of Arizona's communities." She expressed her eagerness to continue working with partners on shared border security priorities.

The move comes amidst a growing concern over the synthetic narcotics crisis in the United States, with Mexican cartels identified as key players by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. However, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has denied evidence of fentanyl production within the country.

Last week, the State Department designated Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations. President Trump had previously cited the deadly influx of opioids as justification for a planned 25% tariff on Mexican goods. This tariff was subsequently paused for a month after President Sheinbaum agreed to deploy 10,000 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to combat fentanyl trafficking.

Arizona shares a 370-mile southern border with Mexico. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported seizing 5,585 pounds of fentanyl at the border in January and noted that 66% of fentanyl seized entering the U.S. in 2024 was intercepted in Arizona.

According to a report by the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Arizona ranked second in the nation for fentanyl trafficking offenses in 2023, behind only the Southern District of California.

Governor Hobbs has allocated a portion of the $28 million balance in Arizona's border security fund to finance the newly formed task force. State officials also highlighted a major drug bust in January that resulted in the seizure of 1,750 pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes expressed her firm stance against the trafficking of these deadly substances, stating that fentanyl and methamphetamine are devastating communities and will not be tolerated in Arizona.