The differences in how the United States and Mexico approach the issue of fentanyl trafficking came into stark relief over the past year. In April 2023, US prosecutors in Washington, …
Synthetic Drugs
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After Arrests, Extraditions, and Infighting, What Does the Future Hold for Mexico’s Chapitos?
by Sabra Bozychby Sabra BozychThe Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel had a tough year with several high-profile arrests, extraditions to the United States, and infighting across Mexico. Still, these setbacks are unlikely to …
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Criminal News
China’s New Fentanyl Controls May Impact Production in Mexico
by Mason Garciaby Mason GarciaChina has announced plans to take increased action on precursor chemicals used to synthesize fentanyl, marking an important step in attacking the flow of these substances into Mexico. The presidents …
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Fentanyl Seizures on US-Mexico Border at Record High Amid Production Ban
by Sabra Bozychby Sabra BozychFentanyl seizures along the US-Mexico border have hit record highs, suggesting that, despite a supposed ban on production of the deadly synthetic opioid in parts of Mexico, a multitude of …
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Latin American countries have raised alarms about increases in medical fentanyl seizures in recent months. While there is some cause for concern, medical fentanyl is significantly different to the illicit …
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Venezuela’s most notorious gang has built a criminal empire stretching from Venezuela to Chile by taking advantage of desperate migrants, first through migrant smuggling on a scale never before seen …
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An Extradition (and a Fentanyl Prohibition) as Mexico Tries a Counterdrug Reset
by Efren Bryneby Efren BryneIn Mexico, criminal groups have prohibited fentanyl production, and the state extradited a top trafficker. Could this mean new US-Mexico counternarcotic relations?
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Mexico
US Indicts Chinese Companies in New Approach to Fighting Precursor Chemicals
by Efren Bryneby Efren BryneThe US government has brought its first-ever criminal charges against Chinese companies for allegedly trafficking precursor chemicals used to produce fentanyl into the United States, demonstrating a sharpened focus on …
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Synthetic drugs are growing in prevalence around the world, but consumer markets in Latin America remain limited.
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Criminal News
What Is Behind Wave of Homicides in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico?
by Efren Bryneby Efren BryneSynthetic drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, and flawed institutions could explain a recent spike in violence roiling Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.