Mexican authorities announced Monday the seizure of 440 pounds of methamphetamine—a haul valued at nearly $40 million—during a major operation in Sinaloa, a known cartel heartland. The operation, part of a broader crackdown on illegal drug laboratories, also resulted in the confiscation of over 3,170 gallons of chemical precursors used in meth production.
The seizure comes amid mounting pressure from President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly cited illegal flows of deadly opioids like fentanyl as a key justification for his threatened 25% tariff on Mexican goods.
Trump temporarily put these trade levies on hold until early March after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to deploy 10,000 additional soldiers to the shared border to combat smuggling.
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Since February 5, when the enhanced deployment began, Mexican authorities have reported significant drug-related busts, including the seizure of 4.9 tons of methamphetamine, 453 kilos of cocaine, 55 kilos of fentanyl, and 489 firearms.
The synthetic opioid fentanyl, which is 50 times more potent than heroin, has been linked to tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the United States.
U.S. authorities, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, have long maintained that Mexican cartels play a central role in the synthetic narcotics crisis by controlling production and the global supply chain.
In its 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment, the DEA specifically highlighted the Sinaloa Cartel’s dominance in the fentanyl market through extensive clandestine operations.
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However, President Sheinbaum has maintained that there is no evidence of fentanyl being produced domestically in Mexico.
Adding to the tension, Sheinbaum warned U.S. gunmakers last week that they could face fresh legal action and be deemed accomplices if Washington designates Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations.
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