Since the policy began, U.S. forces have conducted 68 strikes that have killed 227 alleged drug smugglers, according to official counts.

Chief Gen. Francis L. Donovan said the Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere will "hunt, disrupt, and defeat" cartel networks, while senior officials said President Donald Trump directed the first ever plan to use direct military force to defend the homeland from this threat.

Officials claim the campaign has produced "the largest and steepest reduction in U.S. casualties inflicted by the cartels in American history," reporting a 65% drop in the Western Caribbean, a 60% decline in the Eastern Caribbean, and almost a 50% reduction in key areas of the Eastern Pacific.

The steep decline in casualties is being presented as proof that the new strategy not only deters drug‑related violence but also creates political space for partner governments across the Western Hemisphere to cooperate more closely with the United States.