Mexico's Laws to Regulate Chemicals Work on Paper But Not in Practice

Mexico's regulations concerning precursor chemicals is strong on paper, but rampant corruption means this is essentially meaningless.

Chemists and 'Cooks': How Fentanyl Kills

While cooks produce vast quantities of fentanyl in makeshift labs across Mexico, they are watched over by a small group of expert chemists.

Brokers, More Than Mexico's 'Cartels,' Key to Precursor Flow

Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG depend on a network of brokers to buy precursor chemicals needed to make fentanyl and meth.

Size and Scope of the Meth Industry in Mexico

While fentanyl dominates headlines, Mexico has continued to produce colossal tons of methamphetamine which floods the United States.

Making Synthetic Drugs: A Primer*

The heavy regulation placed on chemical precursors used for meth and fentanyl has seen drug traffickers turn to pre-precursors instead.

Precursors and Mexico’s Synthetic Drug Trade: Summary and Major Findings

InSight Crime's new report shows the inner workings of Mexico's synthetic drugs trade and how criminal groups have profited from it.

Prescription Pills Laced With Meth, Fentanyl Sold in Northern Mexico Pharmacies: Report

Prescription drugs containing fentanyl and methamphetamine are being sold in northern Mexico, putting unknowing customers at extreme risk.

Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport Becoming Arrival Point for Mexican Drugs

Dutch authorities have seized three Mexican drug loads at Schiphol Airport, marking a new trafficking trend for Europe.

3 Takeaways From the Return of the Familia Michoacana

Mexico's Familia Michoacana are back in the headlines again. But is it the same cartel as the one that fell apart years ago?…

GameChangers 2022: How the Chapitos Became Hyper-Capitalist Narcos

The Chapitos are winning the internal war for the Sinaloa Cartel and doing it in a different way than their father ever considered.

How Latin America's Synthetic Drug Traffickers Launder Dirty Cash

The rise of synthetic drugs, in particular fentanyl and methamphetamine, has changed the landscape of opportunity for drug traffickers in Latin America. Highly potent and highly addictive, synthetic narcotics are…

Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations' New Marijuana Strategies

In response to changes in the international marijuana trade, Mexico-based drug trafficking groups have shifted their strategies.