Former FBI assistant director Chris Swecker: First terrorism-related charges against cartel members reflect a tougher federal approach to drug trafficking

A former FBI assistant director says the federal government is taking a “dramatically different approach” to how it approaches drug trafficking after several Sinaloa cartel leaders were slapped with terror-related charges.

Both Pedro Inzunza Noriega and his son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel, were charged with narco-terrorism, material support of terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering on May 13 as members of the Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO), a faction of the Sinaloa cartel. Five additional BLO leaders were charged with drug trafficking and money laundering.

It’s the first time that cartel members have been hit with terrorism-related charges, which Chris Swecker, former assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, told Fox News Digital is intended to send a message.

“This administration is taking a dramatically different approach to fighting drug cartels, who are the most powerful criminal organizations on the planet right now,” Swecker said. “It is perfect for narco-traffickers because if you can go after anyone who supports these trafficking cartels and leaders and members in any way, if they give them a paperclip, if they provide financial support, if they work for them, they’re a hit man.”