Mexico Announces Largest Fentanyl Bust in History Just Days After Trump Tariff Threat

Mexican security forces seized over a ton of fentanyl pills in Sinaloa, marking the largest fentanyl bust in the nation's history. Authorities reported that the operation netted approximately 2,410 pounds of the synthetic opioid with an estimated worth of $400 million.

The timing, some experts said, might not be a coincidence as the operation comes days after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada unless both countries ramped up efforts to curb drug trafficking and illegal migration. Canada, on its end, has said it plans to deploy drones, helicopters, and personnel to address the incoming president's concerns over smuggling.

Security analyst David Saucedo told the AP the bust may in fact be linked to U.S. pressure, claiming Mexico's government often responds strategically to demands from Washington. "Under pressure by Trump, it appears President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration is increasing drug the seizures that Washington is demanding," Saucedo said to the media outlet. He backed his argument by pointing out that Mexico's government doesn't view fentanyl as a domestic priority, acting primarily when external pressures arise.

The raids took place on Tuesday in Sinaloa, the stronghold of the eponymous cartel, and began when soldiers pursued two armed men into two houses. In one location, 660 pounds of fentanyl were discovered, while the other held a truck carrying an additional 1,750 pounds.

The bust also comes as local and federal officials in the country continue their efforts to address the cartel-related violence that has hit northern Mexico since two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, "Los Chapitos" and "La Mayiza," began a war for control over territories and drug smuggling routes in Sinaloa and northern Mexico.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid linked to 70,000 overdose deaths annually in the United States, has become a focal point in U.S.-Mexico relations. The drug, often disguised as counterfeit pills, is produced in Mexican labs using precursor chemicals imported from China. The Sinaloa Cartel is reportedly seeking to change that by recruiting local chemistry students and paying them twice what they would make in a legal job to help them in their efforts.

The record haul contrasts with a 94% drop in fentanyl seizures during the first half of 2024 under former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, when federal forces reported seizing just 286 pounds nationwide.

Despite the historic size of the bust, Saucedo warned it won't significantly disrupt production if labs are not dealt with. "If they don't dismantle the labs, this kind of production will continue," he said.