Coronavirus: US concerned drug cartels to take advantage of COVID-19 crisis

Trump says US to deploy Navy ships in the Caribbean and East Pacific

Last updated: April 02, 2020 | 02:23

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US President Donald Trump speaks, flanked by US Attorney General William Barr (L), during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House on April 1, 2020, in Washington, DC.

AFP

Washington: US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the United States will deploy Navy ships in the Caribbean and East Pacific to prevent drug cartels for taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic and smuggling more narcotics.

Trump, joined by Defence Secretary Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley at a White House briefing, said the move is needed because there is a “growing threat” that cartels and criminals will try to take advantage of the pandemic.

“We must not let that happen,” said Trump.