By Staff, Agencies

US Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump would send US special forces to fight drug cartels in neighboring Mexico if he returns to the White House, Rolling Stone magazine reported on Tuesday.

According to people who have reportedly discussed the matter with Trump, the former US president has privately endorsed the idea of covertly deploying – with or without the Mexican government’s consent – special-ops units that would be tasked with missions such as assassinating the leaders and top enforcers of Mexico’s powerful drug cartels.

The magazine stated that in conversations with close allies, Trump has insisted that the US military has “tougher killers than they do,” arguing that eliminating the heads of cartels would go a long way toward curbing their operations and striking fear into the hearts of “the kingpins.”

One source recalled the ex-president saying during the discussions that the US government should have a “kill list of drug lords” that American special forces would be assigned to eliminate or capture in a potential second Trump administration.

Trump has not presented specific details in public about the purported plans, the magazine wrote. Previously, he floated different ideas for bombing or invading Mexico in response to the American fentanyl crisis.

A synthetic opioid far more powerful than heroin, fentanyl is responsible for the majority of drug deaths in the US. In 2023, the fentanyl overdose death rate topped 120,000 in a 12-month period for the first time, and it remains the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 45.