AMLO defended the fight against fentanyl in Mexico
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador explained that after his meeting with officials from the neighboring country, “the United States government has no doubt about the fight against fentanyl in Mexico.”
President López Obrador said that U.S. officials were “very satisfied” with Mexico’s efforts to combat fentanyl. He added that they were surprised by the volume of confiscated drugs, the number of destroyed laboratories, arrests, and the seizure of weapons.
AMLO stated that Antony Blinken expressed no doubts about Mexico’s efforts to combat fentanyl.
“They have no doubt about what we are doing to combat fentanyl, and it was clarified that the raw material for making the drug is not produced in Mexico but is imported from Asia,” President López Obrador added.
The trafficking of fentanyl was one of the main topics of the meeting with the U.S. delegation, composed of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and White House National Security Advisor Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall.
During the meeting, Mexico reported the destruction of over 2,000 synthetic drug laboratories since the beginning of the López Obrador administration in December 2018.
They also highlighted the seizure of 1,435.6 tons of precursor chemicals, 470 tons of methamphetamines, 184 tons of cocaine, 7.6 tons of fentanyl, and over 44,700 high-powered weapons.
Furthermore, AMLO reiterated Mexico’s position on drug production and emphasized the ongoing fight against fentanyl in Mexico.
In the press conference following the meeting, the Mexican government insisted that fentanyl is not produced in the country. However, U.S. officials maintain that Mexican cartels manufacture this synthetic drug.
“It was also clarified that the raw material for fentanyl is not produced in Mexico; it is imported from Asia and arrives directly in the United States and Canada, including the precursors and everything used in the production of these drugs,” emphasized López Obrador.
The fight against fentanyl in Mexico and the migration issue
Regarding the border wall, López Obrador stated that it is a promotional offer. AMLO once again justified his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, and explained that the construction of 36 kilometers of border wall is due to a budget allocation for it.
“It is a promotional measure,” López Obrador added, noting that it is related to the upcoming U.S. elections. However, he highlighted that the relationship between Mexico and the United States remains good.
Also read: Mexico criticized the position of the United States House of Representatives
