The DEA has said that the Mexican government and the cartels are one in the same. Mullin answered, “Well, we do know there’s corruption with inside — especially with our border communities, with the cartels. He also defended the daily partnership between the United States and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration. We tell the cartels and every individual who profits from this poison that America, our Americans, are united. The network stretched across several Mexican states and included money laundering, fuel theft, smuggling, fraud, front companies, and bribery.