DEA attributes methamphetamine seizures in Mexico to its intelligence; Harfuch highlights naval work

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) affirmed that the recent seizures of methamphetamine in Mexico, including the seizure on Friday of more than 16 tons in Sinaloa, “would not have occurred without the intelligence and investigative work” of that agency, a version that contrasts with that offered by the Secretary of Security, Omar García Harfuch, who attributed the operation to the work of the Naval Intelligence Unit, “strengthened” – he said – with the exchange of information with agencies Americans.

In a message published on its social networks, the DEA maintained that in just over a week the Mexican authorities have dismantled eight important methamphetamine laboratories "with collaboration of the DEA." The one in Sinaloa, the agency indicated, is “the largest so far,” with more than 16 tons of drugs seized. The US agency asserted that these operations are a sign of the “power of collaboration between the DEA and Mexico” to hit the production of synthetic drugs, cut supply chains and affect the finances of organized crime.

García Harfuch himself had announced the seizures on Friday through his X account, where he reported on the discovery of the laboratory in Sinaloa. He explained that it was a clandestine complex of 5,700 square meters, and it is the second largest methamphetamine laboratory located during the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum.

He insisted that international cooperation is maintained “with full respect for our sovereignty” and announced that it will continue to “translate into concrete actions against those who produce and traffic drugs.”

The Navy dealt a new blow to the Los Mayos faction of the Sinaloa cartel by locating and disabling a new complex for the production of synthetic drugs in the town of Corralejo, Sinaloa, for the third consecutive day.

The drug laboratory operated on an area of approximately 3,150 square meters and among the seized material were “approximately 2,000 kilograms of finished product, as well as 1,320 liters of mixed finished product, with an estimated value of 401 million pesos.

Likewise, so far this week, the Navy and the National Customs Association have seized 3,854,692 apocryphal cigarettes, which is equivalent to 15.6 tons that were intended to be smuggled through the port of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, and the Mexico City International Airport.

The United States government issued a new security alert for Nogales, Sonora, and urged its citizens to restrict activities, including travel.

On social networks, he reported that “due to information about threats, the activities of the United States government in Nogales, and travel there, have been restricted to essential movements during daylight hours” and recalled that the current alert for Sonora is level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”).