Despite the CJNG moving into Mexico’s northern state of Tamaulipas, the Gulf Cartel remains the foremost security threat along the US border.
Synthetic Drugs
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Some believe the CJNG’s invasion of Tamaulipas is all but a sure thing despite the Gulf Cartel’s historical roots, others are not convinced.
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While cooks produce vast quantities of fentanyl in makeshift labs across Mexico, they are watched over by a small group of expert chemists.
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Investigations
Brokers, More Than Mexico’s ‘Cartels,’ Key to Precursor Flow
by Mia Meyerby Mia MeyerMexico’s Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG depend on a network of brokers to buy precursor chemicals needed to make fentanyl and meth.
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The difficulty of sourcing finished fentanyl from China has Mexican groups acquire precursor chemicals to synthesize fentanyl themselves.
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Investigations
Precursors and Mexico’s Synthetic Drug Trade: Summary and Major Findings
by Elijah Jonesby Elijah JonesInSight Crime’s new report shows the inner workings of Mexico’s synthetic drugs trade and how criminal groups have profited from it.
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The heavy regulation placed on chemical precursors used for meth and fentanyl has seen drug traffickers turn to pre-precursors instead.
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South America’s Cocaine Supply Boom Shows Up in European Wastewater Analysis
by Mia Meyerby Mia MeyerWastewater analysis of major European cities shows cocaine consumption continues to rise in parallel with South America’s booming production.
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The US State Department’s annual narcotics report sees coca cultivation spreading, while Colombia remains the top cocaine supplier to the US.
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The misuse of the term “cartel” by US lawmakers at a recent hearing on fentanyl prompts us to ask: should “cartel” be retired?