Mexican security forces have announced a historic drug seizure in Sinaloa, impounding more than one ton of fentanyl in what authorities are calling the largest bust in the country’s history.
The huge discovery comes just one week after President-elect Donald Trump issued a public warning that he would impose 25% tariffs on goods from both Canada and Mexico unless the two countries ramped up efforts to stop the flow of illegal immigration and drugs into America, as previously reported by DX.
Trump spoke on the role of Mexican cartels in the fentanyl trade, which has been linked to tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the United States each year.
“On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders. This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!” Trump posted to his Truth Social platform.
According to data from the National Immigration Forum, in 2020 southern border officials confiscated 4,600 pounds of fentanyl, a number that surged to 26,700 pounds in 2023.
The recent fentanyl seizure, primarily in pill form, was found late Tuesday night in two separate properties during a coordinated raid by Mexico’s military and naval forces. According to The Guardian, authorities arrested two people during the operation and seized a variety of firearms.
Omar Garcia Harfuch, Mexico’s Public Safety Secretary, referred to the recent bust as the largest fentanyl seizure in the country’s history on social media. The total haul amounted to approximately 2,500 pounds of the synthetic opioid, most of which was found in a truck at one location, while the rest was reportedly located in a separate house in the area.
David Saucedo, a security analyst and expert on Mexican drug cartels, also suggested that the timing of the seizure was likely influenced by external pressure from Washington, reported The Guardian.
Additionally, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum commented on the operation, noting that the bust was the result of a months-long investigation.
“This is an investigation that had been going on for some time, and yesterday it bore fruit,” she said.