Seen, Heard & Whispered has learned that drug cartels have been forced to find new ways to launder their money since the Trump administration has disrupted their activities via Operation Southern Spear, the military and surveillance campaign against transnational criminals at sea.
One new method is selling exotic animals, specifically jellyfish.
Sara Carter, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, noted that the cartels are selling the jellyfish to China.
“Across the globe, we are seeing the effects of the market and the cartels are looking at expanding,” she told The Washington Times. “They are looking at how they can push and find different choke points.”
“We have to go after their finances, their intelligence apparatus,” Ms. Carter said.
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She took on the drug czar post last year after a decades-long career as an investigative reporter covering the southern border and national security. She was confirmed in the position in January.
Ms. Carter previously worked at Fox News and The Washington Times.
Operation Southern Spear has launched more than a dozen kinetic strikes on vessels believed to be carrying drugs around South America.
Ms. Carter said striking those boats has decreased the illegal importation of cocaine.
