Sen. Mark Kelly Critiques War on Drug Trafficking

On Sunday, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) expressed skepticism about the Trump administration’s approach to combating drug trafficking, referring to it as a law enforcement issue rather than a military one.

In an interview on ABC’s “This Week,” Kelly was questioned about the Pentagon’s deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group, particularly in relation to suspected drug smugglers. He questioned the legality of this action, noting that both the White House and the Pentagon struggled to provide a convincing argument for it.

“They seemed to be searching for answers,” he remarked. “We posed several questions, from both sides of the aisle, and it was clear that the meeting didn’t go well. Their list of authorized organizations doesn’t align with traditional law enforcement methods. I mean, we all agree on the need to combat drugs like fentanyl effectively, but the focus should be on prosecuting drug traffickers, not putting young military personnel at legal risk.”

When asked whether the government had been trying a different approach, Kelly seemed unsure and paused before responding, noting that perhaps the methods in use just weren’t sufficient. He suggested reallocating some funding from the Department of Homeland Security to the Coast Guard for better drug interception efforts, particularly in the Caribbean. However, he added that fentanyl isn’t typically smuggled through those routes, undermining claims that the deployment is aimed at combating fentanyl trafficking.

Raddatz probed further about evidence of drug trafficking presented to him, to which Kelly confirmed there had been some but suggested that it did not back up the narrative being shared by the administration. While he acknowledged that some boats were indeed loaded with drugs, he refrained from specifying details about their discovery, citing security concerns.

As the conversation continued, he was asked about possible military action against Venezuela. Kelly expressed uncertainty, saying, “You can’t just move a combat group without a real reason, which seems more like intimidation than a strategy for safety.” He concluded that starting a conflict over drug enforcement would not enhance America’s security.