Former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Derek Maltz is backing the idea of billionaire investor and technologist Elon Musk contributing his skills and resources in the business and technology sector to heighten U.S. border security efforts.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on Wednesday that former President Donald Trump is allegedly considering Mr. Musk for an advisory role in his administration, should he retake the White House in the 2024 election.
The publication reported this alleged arrangement could see Mr. Musk provide input on a range of topics, including the economy and U.S. border security.
Discussing U.S. border security and cross-border drug trafficking during an interview with NTD’s “Capitol Report” on Wednesday, Mr. Maltz welcomed the reported burgeoning Trump-Musk relationship.
“With his talent and his resources, we could start using some of the greatest technology and decimate—let me repeat that—decimate the Mexican cartels’ ability to produce poisonous fentanyl and other substances,” Mr. Maltz said.
The former DEA agent said embracing new and emerging detection technologies is a necessary piece of any strong border security policy.
“You need technology, you need drones, you need other cool technologies, scanning technology, and other things that can be developed, that’s already out there,” Mr. Maltz said.
President Joe Biden had combined a request for new border security funding into a larger supplemental spending bill earlier this year. President Biden’s proposal included a request for funding to hire more U.S. border and immigration personnel, along with funding to install drug detection systems along ports of entry at the U.S. southern border.
The border security elements of the spending supplemental collapsed as congressional Republicans argued it didn’t include strong enough border and immigration policy reforms.
Mr. Musk has yet to directly address the reports that he’s in talks with President Trump about taking on an advisory role and dealing with border security policies in a future administration.
Social Media Platforms Should Raise Awareness
Beyond directly assisting the U.S. government with technological innovations along U.S. borders, Mr. Maltz argued Mr. Musk could assist in other ways, including by putting more public attention on the health risks associated with fentanyl.
In addition to leading electric vehicle and space technology companies such as Tesla and SpaceX, Mr. Musk also has the potential to shape public opinion through his ownership of the X social media app, formerly known as Twitter.
“I think having a genius like Elon Musk on board the team would be beautiful, but I would say this thing. If I had Elon Musk on the call right now, I would beg him to put out some social media reels about the deadly poisoning from fentanyl,” Mr. Maltz said.
He insisted poor public awareness remains a key contributing factor in the overall number of U.S. fentanyl overdose deaths.
“Right now, the American kids and the American public, they’re not getting it,” the former DEA agent said. “We’re still losing far too many Americans. But we have to get this on social media. We have to get it to where to kids are on TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.”
While he positioned social media platforms and influencers as a potentially powerful tool to raise awareness, Mr. Maltz said drug traffickers are also showing social media savvy and utilizing online platforms to connect with younger buyers and move drugs more easily through online avenues.
“When I grew up, if you wanted, like, heroin, you’d have to go to some dark alley and risk your life. Young kids weren’t doing that,” he said. “Now they could click the mouse and it gets delivered to their house. They make payment on Cash App or one of these payment apps. So it’s very easy. So the cartels are in everybody’s bedroom. And shame on the American parents and uncles and aunts that are not recognizing this, because you should be outraged. They’re invading your privacy of your homes.”