Mexico has been acknowledged as the “champion” of fentanyl production by the head of the country’s detective service, Felipe de Jesus Gallo. Despite previous denials from President López Obrador, who claimed that Mexican cartels only processed fentanyl, Gallo stated that Mexico has been leading in the production of fentanyl since the 1990s. Cartels in Mexico source precursor chemicals from China and India to produce fentanyl and methamphetamine, which they smuggle into the United States. While fentanyl abuse is low in Mexico, methamphetamine addiction is widespread.
Mexican cartels have industrialized methamphetamine production in various states across the country, with drug laboratories now being found in areas beyond Sinaloa and Sonora, such as Hidalgo, Puebla, and Jalisco. Gallo highlighted the sophistication of the drug trade in Mexico, with the cartels exporting methamphetamine to locations as far away as Hong Kong and Australia. Cartels have developed innovative business models to avoid detection, including barter systems to trade precursor chemicals for meth, in order to conceal their money trail.
In February, Mexico’s Navy discovered over 45 tons of methamphetamine at the largest drug lab found during the current administration in a remote part of Sonora. This seizure accounted for more than half of the total methamphetamine seized by Mexico so far in that year. Fentanyl production in Mexico is also significant, although the volume produced is smaller due to its potency. A year ago, soldiers seized over half a million fentanyl pills in Culiacan, marking the largest synthetic drug lab discovered at that time.
Despite the growing drug production in Mexico, López Obrador claims that Mexicans are culturally immune to drug addiction and has denied fentanyl production in the country in the past. However, the evidence presented by Gallo and the seizure of large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl suggests otherwise. The conference on synthetic drugs held in Mexico City highlighted the extent of Mexico’s involvement in the production and trafficking of fentanyl and methamphetamine. The drug trade has become increasingly sophisticated, with cartels finding new ways to avoid detection and expand their operations globally.
The prevalence of methamphetamine addiction in Mexico poses a significant public health challenge, with widespread abuse of the drug throughout the country. The industrial-scale production of methamphetamine by Mexican cartels contributes to the drug’s availability and the rise in addiction rates. Despite efforts to combat drug trafficking and production, the cartels continue to operate on a large scale, exporting drugs to international markets. The complexity of the drug trade in Mexico, including the sourcing of precursor chemicals from China and India, highlights the challenges faced in tackling the country’s role in the global drug market.
