America already has a narco-state inside its borders — it’s called Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is facing a severe crisis with drug trafficking and gang violence, as evidenced by recent federal charges against members of local gangs. The island's poverty and welfare dependency have exacerbated the situation, allowing gangs to consolidate power and operate with impunity. Without significant intervention, Puerto Rico risks becoming a narco-state within the United States, with direct access to the mainland for drug trafficking.
- ▪In March, federal authorities charged 52 members of the Puerto Rican gang La Familia Nunca Muere with drug trafficking and firearms violations.
- ▪Puerto Rico recorded 471 homicides in 2025, with public housing projects accounting for 17% of those killings despite housing only 3% of the population.
- ▪Corruption within law enforcement has deepened the crisis, with over 1,700 officers facing charges connected to drug-related crimes between 2005 and 2010.
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President Donald Trump’s “Shield of the Americas” initiative seeks to unite the Western Hemisphere against cartels and transnational criminal networks. But one of the most dangerous fronts in that fight is no longer abroad. It is inside an American territory. In March, federal authorities charged 52 members of the Puerto Rican gang La Familia Nunca Muere with drug trafficking and firearms violations, linking the organization to more than 30 murders, many carried out in broad daylight. Puerto Rico — home to just 3.1 million people — recorded 471 homicides in 2025. Public housing projects, known locally as “residenciales” or “caserios,” contain only 3% of the island’s population, yet accounted for 17% of those killings.
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