"Trump team discusses designating Mexican drug cartel terrorist group"

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's team is discussing a plan to designate Mexico's drug cartels as terrorist groups, CNN reported.

CNN says it is unclear whether Trump will designate the cartel as a terrorist group from his first day in office, but he is currently discussing who he will designate and when he will act.

Earlier in December last year, Trump announced plans to designate a terrorist group at an event in Arizona, threatening to mobilize special forces to remove cartel executives or bomb fentanyl factories.

Designation as a terrorist organization prohibits various transactions with U.S. companies and individuals, and can be subject to sanctions if they help terrorist organizations.

CNN added, however, that the designation of a terrorist organization could be a burden on the relationship between the United States and Mexico, and that the designation of a cartel as a terrorist organization would not change much.

A source said Trump's designation of a terrorist group for drug cartels was more aimed at putting pressure on the Mexican government.