EPISODE · Mar 10, 2026 · 4 MIN
Remarks by Director Carter at the United Nations’ Commission on Narcotic Drugs
from The White House In Audio · host Instaread Podcast
On March 9, 2026, Sara Carter, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), addressed the 69th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna. Her remarks emphasized a shift toward a more aggressive, military-backed global response to the illicit drug trade under the Trump Administration.Key highlights of the address include:Recent Successes and Operations: Carter highlighted Operation Southern Spear in the Caribbean and the successful capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro as major milestones. She also acknowledged the elimination of "el Mencho," a notorious Mexican cartel leader, while honoring the fallen Mexican personnel who participated in the operation.Fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction: Carter reported that the U.S. has recently designated fentanyl and its precursors as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). She characterized the distribution of these substances as a "chemical war" aimed at boosting cartel profits through forced addiction.Seizure Statistics: In the past year, U.S. authorities seized over 47 million fentanyl-laced pills and 100,000 pounds of powder—enough for 369 million lethal doses. Despite these seizures, nearly 80,000 Americans died from drug poisonings in 2025.Criticism of China: Carter explicitly blamed China for the fentanyl crisis, stating that precursor chemicals are manufactured "by the millions of tons" there. She accused the Chinese government of having "weak export controls" that favor cartels while maintaining "overly effective controls" over rare earth minerals for economic leverage.Regional Military Cooperation: She noted a recent meeting in Miami led by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, where Western Hemisphere military leaders gathered to discuss "operationalizing hard power" to dismantle cartels.A Call for Global Offensive: Carter urged the international community to move beyond nascent regulations and target the places where criminal networks "feel the safest," focusing on their funding, safe havens, and shipping routes.The speech framed the drug crisis not merely as a public health issue, but as a matter of global security requiring the "pooled might" of nations to defeat "the terror of drugs."
What this episode covers
On March 9, 2026, Sara Carter, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), addressed the 69th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna. Her remarks emphasized a shift toward a more aggressive, military-backed global response to the illicit drug trade under the Trump Administration.Key highlights of the address include:Recent Successes and Operations: Carter highlighted Operation Southern Spear in the Caribbean and the successful capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro as major milestones. She also acknowledged the elimination of "el Mencho," a notorious Mexican cartel leader, while honoring the fallen Mexican personnel who participated in the operation.Fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction: Carter reported that the U.S. has recently designated fentanyl and its precursors as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). She characterized the distribution of these substances as a "chemical war" aimed at boosting cartel profits through forced addiction.Seizure Statistics: In the past year, U.S. authorities seized over 47 million fentanyl-laced pills and 100,000 pounds of powder—enough for 369 million lethal doses. Despite these seizures, nearly 80,000 Americans died from drug poisonings in 2025.Criticism of China: Carter explicitly blamed China for the fentanyl crisis, stating that precursor chemicals are manufactured "by the millions of tons" there. She accused the Chinese government of having "weak export controls" that favor cartels while maintaining "overly effective controls" over rare earth minerals for economic leverage.Regional Military Cooperation: She noted a recent meeting in Miami led by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, where Western Hemisphere military leaders gathered to discuss "operationalizing hard power" to dismantle cartels.A Call for Global Offensive: Carter urged the international community to move beyond nascent regulations and target the places where criminal networks "feel the safest," focusing on their funding, safe havens, and shipping routes.The speech framed the drug crisis not merely as a public health issue, but as a matter of global security requiring the "pooled might" of nations to defeat "the terror of drugs."
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Remarks by Director Carter at the United Nations’ Commission on Narcotic Drugs
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