Fentanyl seizures in Mexico have elevated tenfold within the final 5 years in comparison with the earlier 5, in accordance with Overseas Minister Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, who mentioned Mexico accounted for 1 / 4 of world seizures from 2020 to this yr.
Bárcena shared the figures on the 78th session of the United Nations Common Meeting, throughout a presentation on how Mexico is confronting the specter of trafficking of artificial medication like fentanyl.
“The actions carried out between 2020 and 2023 by our nation symbolize 25% of fentanyl seizures globally,” she mentioned, including {that a} 1,049% improve was seen between the interval 2014-2018 and the interval from January 2018 to March 2023.
Mexico’s current successes within the combat in opposition to fentanyl additionally embrace the arrest in January of drug trafficker Ovidio Guzmán – son of infamous Sinaloa Cartel capo Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán – who was extradited to the US final week.
Bárcena confused that worldwide collaboration is essential within the combat in opposition to the potent artificial opioid fentanyl, which brought on 70,000 deaths in the US final yr alone.
She highlighted Mexico’s participation within the World Container Management Program to observe drug trafficking by way of seaports, in addition to two pilot applications to trace chemical imports and detect rising precursors.
U.S. authorities accuse Mexican cartels of producing fentanyl utilizing Chinese language precursor chemical substances after which trafficking the substance over the border.
“Mexico has established very shut communication with China, with India and with Korea as a result of we wish to analyze the chains of the precursor chemical substances of fentanyl manufacturing and we wish to assist on this horrible pandemic,” Bárcena mentioned.
China, nonetheless, has denied duty within the fentanyl provide chain, and refused to hitch Mexico within the World Coalition to Tackle Artificial Drug Threats launched by the U.S. in July. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, alternatively, has beforehand denied that fentanyl is manufactured in Mexico, claiming it comes straight from China.
Whereas Bárcena’s speech accepted Mexico’s position within the unlawful drug commerce, she confused that combatting arms trafficking is essential to undermining the facility of organized crime. Most unlawful weapons in Mexico are trafficked from the U.S.
Bárcena additionally advocated addressing the fentanyl disaster from “a preventive strategy by way of public well being,” specializing in the “structural causes” that result in dependancy.
In her remarks on the launch of the World Coalition, Safety Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez added that cultural, ethical and non secular values kind the “principal vaccine” in opposition to this social and public well being drawback, and have to be strengthened.
With experiences from Aristegui Noticias
