Mexican authorities announced the seizure of 24,400 liters of liquid methamphetamine in the state of Sinaloa (northwest of the country), an operation that represents the largest seizure of this type of drug during the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum and the second largest recorded in the history of the country.

The Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) reported that the operation was carried out between June 19 and 20 in the city of Los Mochis, where elements of the Army, the National Guard and agents of the Attorney General's Office of the Republic searched a property allegedly linked to the Sinaloa Cartel.

In addition to the drugs, security forces located more than 98,000 liters and nearly 60,000 kilograms of chemicals used to make synthetic drugs. Two vehicles, chargers for long weapons and ammunition of various calibers were also seized.

According to official estimates, the seizure represents an economic impact of approximately 518 million dollars, significantly hitting the financial structure of criminal groups involved in drug trafficking. During the operation, Jorge “N” was arrested, identified by the authorities as an alleged member of the Sinaloa Cartel. The suspect was placed at the disposal of the federal Public Ministry to continue the investigations.

Blow to an organization under pressure

The seizure occurs in the middle of a particularly complicated stage for the Sinaloa Cartel, an organization that for decades has been considered one of the most powerful on the continent and is currently facing internal divisions, arrests of historical leaders and increasing pressure from Mexican and US authorities.

Since September 2024, the state of Sinaloa has been experiencing a wave of violence derived from the confrontation between two factions of the criminal group: the so-called “Los Chapitos”, made up of children of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, and followers of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. The dispute intensified after Zambada's capture in the United States in July 2024, an episode that altered the internal balance of the criminal organization and caused an escalation of homicides, disappearances and armed confrontations in the region.

Both Guzmán and Zambada currently remain in custody in the United States, although authorities consider that the organization maintains extensive operational capacity in international drug trafficking.

Security and pressure from Washington

The assurance also occurs in a context of growing pressure from Washington for Mexico to strengthen its actions against drug trafficking cartels and the flow of synthetic drugs into US territory. According to figures from the Mexican government, since the beginning of the Sheinbaum administration in October 2024, 2,407 clandestine laboratories dedicated to the production of methamphetamines have been dismantled.

At the same time, the authorities reported other important blows against drug trafficking. In Tlaxcala, more than a ton of cocaine was seized along with weapons and tactical equipment, while in maritime operations off the coast of Guerrero, more than 2.1 additional tons of that drug were seized and five people were arrested.

Authorities maintain that these operations seek to reduce the production and distribution capacity of synthetic drugs and weaken the finances of criminal organizations that operate inside and outside of Mexico.