Latin American gangs have gained increasing ground on U.S. soil, fueling violence and drug trafficking, as communities grapple with illegal immigration and drug trafficking networks.

Fox News Digital spoke with former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Senior Special Agent Michael Brown, who is the global director of counter-narcotics technology at Rigaku Analytical Devices, about the impact of Latin American gangs on U.S. communities.

“You have this incredible narco structure, this narco state, pushing multiple tons of narcotics into the United States, which drives U.S. drug trafficking and organization-based violence,” he said.

Brown said that cartels are not just street-level groups, but highly organized criminal enterprises that control drug trafficking and engage in violent turf wars.

– Similar to MS-13 and Barrio 18, this group operates in Central America and is known for violent clashes with rival groups, along with involvement in various criminal enterprises like human trafficking and drug smuggling.