What the head of the Mexican Criminal Investigation Service Felipe de Jesus Gayo reports
The country that is considered to be the world “champion” in synthetic drugs is strong>Mexico according to a senior Mexican security official.
The admission came as US officials attending the meeting in Mexico on Tuesday (23/04) again called for the fight against powerful Mexican cartels to be stepped up.
“Mexico was the leading country in the production of methamphetamine. , and now fentanyl,” admitted the head of the Mexican Criminal Investigation Service, Felipe de Jesus Gayo.
Mexico ‘champion’ of synthetic drug production, official says pic.twitter.com/B3ZMwf2j2V
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The synthetic drug trafficking brings “the most wealth and the most power” to the cartels, he added.
According to the US Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Mexican cartels process precursor chemicals they import from China and then export to the North American market fentanyl, a drug blamed for tens of thousands of overdose deaths.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has promised to work with the US to attack the root of the problem, but has at times downplayed the scope of production in Mexico.
“We are in the midst of a global crisis because of illegal synthetic drugs,” said Chris Lundberg, deputy director of the US agency responsible for combating drug production at the international level (Bureau of International Narcotics, INL).
The US is making intensive efforts to reduce drug demand, he assured his Mexican counterparts.
Mexico 'champion' of synthetic drug production, official says https://t.co/KJryY5mhH3
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“But the US is not the only country at risk and we need additional support to combat the global supply of drugs,” he added, stressing that he understands that “criminal organizations are adapting quickly and we need more flexible and more comprehensive approach”.
