Mexican security forces made the largest fentanyl haul in the nation’s history.
Around 1.2 tons of fentanyl were impounded in the state of Sinaloa on Wednesday, where a bloody factional war among the local cartel is taking place.
“This is an investigation that has been going on for a long time, and yesterday, it gave these results,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said at a press conference on Thursday, after the seizure.
Security forces discovered the fentanyl at two properties in the municipality of Ahome as part of an intelligence-led operation.
In the first property, 800 kilograms of fentanyl, along with precursor chemicals, were discovered. At the second property, a smaller haul of fentanyl, about 300kg, was found, as well as precursor chemicals, scales, and industrial mixers.
President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to impose 25% tariffs on all goods from Mexico entering the US if the Mexican government can’t get a handle on illegal immigration and the cross-border drug trade, which includes fentanyl, and a 25% tariff on Canadian goods as well.
The announcement led to frantic diplomatic efforts, as both Mexican President Sheinbaum and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau contacted Trump directly in an attempt to negotiate an alternative to tariffs.
After a phone call with Trump, Sheinbaum conceded that caravans of migrants would be prevented from reaching the Mexican border.
Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago to meet Trump after a phone call and agreed to strengthen border security with the US to prevent illegal immigration from the north.
Trump has also threatened to impose an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods if the country doesn’t halt the production of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals.
Fentanyl has been responsible for hundreds of thousands of fatal overdoses in the United States.