Sinaloa State Dominates Fentanyl and Meth Production in Mexico

Authorities in Mexico's northern state of Sinaloa have made a string of synthetic drug lab busts, underscoring how the state has emerged as a fentanyl and methamphetamine production hub.

Sonora: Growing Air Corridor for Synthetic Drugs on US-Mexico Border

Mexican authorities have intercepted a succession of flights carrying synthetic drugs to the northern state of Sonora, raising questions over whether the border territory is acquiring greater importance as a…

China Producers Cashing in on Online Sale of Fentanyl Precursors

Chinese companies are turning to online sales to supply the fentanyl precursor market in Mexico. As a result, more criminal groups are producing fentanyl, stoking tensions with the cartels at…

The Horrors of Zacatecas Could Happen Anywhere in Mexico

The hideous levels of violence plaguing Zacatecas, exemplified by ten bodies abandoned in a van outside the governor’s office, are the result of an ongoing campaign by major cartels.

The Three Criminal Fronts Sparking Violence in Sonora, Mexico

Murders have spiked in Mexico's northern state of Sonora, thanks to the volatile mix of a veteran drug trafficker's alleged return, internal disputes within the Sinaloa Cartel, and an offensive…

How Mexican Cartels Settled in Canada

The story of the Mexican cartels and their influence abroad has mostly focused on the United States. But a number of Mexican groups have headed farther north, embedding themselves in…

Synthetic Drugs Flood California Crossing of US-Mexico Border

A record seizure of methamphetamine and fentanyl at a US-Mexico border crossing near San Diego underscores how this corner has become a major smuggling corridor for synthetic drugs.

What Does Massive Fentanyl Seizure Say About US-Mexico Security Relations?

A recent seizure of fentanyl in Mexico has shed further light on the capacity of organized crime groups to mass-produce the deadly synthetic opioid. Still, the timing suggests US officials…

Impact of Illicit Fentanyl Felt on Both Sides of US-Mexico Border

Fentanyl continues to wreak havoc on both sides of the US-Mexico border, as Mexican security forces continue to seize the drug while anti-narcotics officials in the United States are warning…

US Sanctions Reveal CJNG’s Grip on Mexico Port To Move Fentanyl

The United States has sanctioned four suspected members of Mexico’s powerful CJNG cartel, alleging that they controlled drug operations at a Pacific port that is a crucial entry point for…

Fentanyl and 2CB, Worrying New Cocktail on Colombia's Party Circuit

A synthetic drug popular in Colombia's party scene was recently found to be laced with the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl, creating a deadly mix that has not been previously reported…

US Drug Deaths Explode, Fueled by Mexico Production of Synthetics

The United States saw a record toll in drug overdose deaths last year, driven in part by two powerful synthetic drugs mass-produced in Mexico and then smuggled over the border.