Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – In a recently published World Drug Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Mexico, along with Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Syria, has been identified as a significant hub for the global manufacturing of synthetic drugs. These findings underscore how these countries have become fertile grounds for such activities, primarily due to prevalent governance issues and instability.
The report, presented on Wednesday, highlights a worrying trend: the number of people using drugs globally rose to 292 million in 2022, marking a 20% increase over the past decade. This surge in drug use, coupled with the proliferation of synthetic opioids, poses a severe threat to public health.
The UNODC’s data up to 2022 reveals that global criminal organizations have exploited instability and rule of law issues to perpetrate drug trafficking and diversify their criminal activities. While drug seizures in South America have generally stabilized, countries like Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru saw higher seizure records in 2022 compared to the previous year. Ecuador, in particular, has been significantly affected, experiencing a wave of lethal violence linked to local and transnational criminal groups, especially from Mexico and the Balkans, according to the report.
North America and Europe are identified as the primary destination markets for global drug production. The report notes that although methamphetamine can be manufactured in various countries, large-scale production is concentrated in regions where the rule of law is weak, particularly in Myanmar and neighboring countries, as well as in Mexico. Mexican cartels produce significant quantities of methamphetamine, which are then supplied to major markets in East and Southeast Asia and North America.
In February 2024, a clandestine laboratory for creating methamphetamines was discovered in the State of Sonora, Mexico, highlighting the ongoing issue of illegal drug manufacturing. Border points in Latin America have become critical nerve centers for drug trafficking groups, which have expanded their activities to include human trafficking and environmental crimes, thereby damaging fragile ecosystems and negatively impacting local communities.
Since 2019, Mexican cartels have been the primary suppliers of illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids in the United States. These cartels obtain precursor chemicals and manufacturing equipment from suppliers based in China and, through intermediaries, synthesize illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids in clandestine Mexican laboratories. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 107,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2023, with over 74,000 of these deaths attributed to synthetic opioids, primarily illicitly manufactured fentanyl.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently addressed this crisis, stating, “The opioid crisis, and especially the rise of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, has devastated communities and claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans. President Biden and I are committed to using every tool we have to combat illicit fentanyl and its chemical precursors so we can disrupt these deadly supply chains.”
The UN report also highlights the most consumed drugs globally, with cannabis leading at 228 million users, followed by opioids at 60 million, amphetamines at 30 million, cocaine at 23 million, and ecstasy at 20 million. The opioids tramadol and fentanyl continue to pose significant public health threats in Africa and the United States, respectively, with the latter experiencing very high numbers of overdose deaths.
Cocaine supply reached a record high in 2022, with over 2,700 tons manufactured, marking a 20% increase from the previous year and tripling the production levels of 2013 and 2014. The demand for cocaine is also on the rise, with consumption indicators showing an increase following a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Mexico, the issue of fentanyl production came to the forefront last April when Felipe de Jesús Gallo, head of the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Attorney General’s Office (FGR), acknowledged the country’s role as a “champion” in fentanyl production. This admission marked a significant shift from the previous stance of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who had denied that fentanyl was produced in Mexico. However, Gallo’s statement was swiftly retracted, with the FGR issuing an apology and López Obrador dismissing the official’s remarks as “alarmist.”
The UNODC report underscores the urgent need for international cooperation and comprehensive strategies to address the complex challenges posed by global drug trafficking and synthetic drug production. As countries grapple with these issues, it is crucial to strengthen governance, enhance law enforcement capabilities, and address the root causes of instability that allow criminal organizations to thrive.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - In a recently published World Drug Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Mexico, along with Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Syria, has been identified as a significant hub for the global manufacturing of synthetic drugs. These findings underscore how these countries have become fertile grounds for such activities, primarily due to prevalent governance issues and instability.