[Link] A $200 Million Load of Fentanyl Was Just Seized in El Chapo’s Hometown

Read: 11/7/2022 www.vice.com

Authorities also found 555 kg of methamphetamine, 31 kg of cocaine, 7 kg of heroin, and over 71,000 kg of chemical precursors. Ten people were arrested in the bust, according to a Mexican army press release.

drug addiction drug busts drug dealing drug deaths drug markets drug precursors drug production drug routes drug smuggling drug supply drug use drug violence drug war drugs fentanyl gangs and drugs methamphetamine mexican cartels mexican government mexican police mexico mexico armed forces mexico crime mexico drugs mexico geopolitics opiates opiod crisis opiods us drugs us opiate crisis vice.com war on drugs

[Link] Colombia: Coca farmers release 180 soldiers from hostage

Read: 4/11/2021 www.dw.com

Almost 200 Colombian soldiers were released on Thursday after being held hostage by coca farmers with sticks and machetes, a government official said.

cartels coca farmers cocaine colombia colombia crime colombia drugs colombia military drug precursors drug production drug routes drug supply drug violence drug war drugs farc hostages narcos natural drugs protests south america south america drugs war on drugs

[Link] First China, Now India: How Drug Cartels Get Chemicals for Meth and Fentanyl

Read: 26/8/2021 www.vice.com

Restrictions in China have pushed drug traffickers to source the chemical “precursors” they need in India. Shopping for the chemical ingredients used to make fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other illicit synthetic drugs is still easy—if you know where to look.

asia china chinese crackdown drug precursors drug production drug smuggling drugs fentanyl india loopholes methamphetamine mexican cartels mexico public health public health crisis synthetic drugs us dea usa vice.com