In a successful operation conducted by the National Guard (Guardia Nacional) as part of the National Public Security Strategy and the National Addiction Prevention Strategy, authorities intercepted a shipment believed to contain cocaine and crystal meth disguised within stuffed animals.
During inspection tasks at a courier and parcel delivery company in Culiacán, specially trained canine units indicated two suspicious boxes. The dogs’ reactions alerted personnel to the potential presence of illegal substances.
Upon thorough examination, it was discovered that the first box, which was labeled as transporting cotton and destined for Orizaba, Veracruz, contained three clear plastic bags filled with a substance resembling crystal meth.
In the second box, meant for Mexicali, Baja California, investigators found three stuffed toys. Inside these toys, they uncovered plastic bags containing white powder. Chemical tests later confirmed that this powder was cocaine.
The seized drugs and packages were turned over to the Federal Public Ministry in the area for further investigation. Photos shared on social media showed the stuffed animals packed in a gift box adorned with a purple ribbon. The toys included a dinosaur, a wolf, and a unicorn.
On July 9, 2024, during a regular press conference led by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, José Rafael Ojeda Durán, the Secretary of the Navy, provided updates on recent fentanyl seizures in Mexico. He reported that authorities had confiscated 400 grams of this opioid in the past weeks. This substance is linked to Mexican criminal groups, particularly the Sinaloa Cartel.
Ojeda Durán presented data illustrating that fentanyl confiscations have steadily increased since 2018, with a noted decline in seizures this year. Overall, more than 8,300 kilograms of fentanyl have been seized during López Obrador’s presidency, as per the Navy Secretary’s information.
Fentanyl, associated with a public health crisis in the United States, is often linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, especially to factions led by JoaquÃn Guzmán Loera’s sons, known as Los Chapitos. Reports from U.S. agencies suggest that Los Chapitos play a significant role in the fentanyl epidemic plaguing the neighboring country.
In October 2023, banners allegedly signed by Los Chapitos appeared in Sinaloa, distancing themselves from the production and sale of fentanyl. Subsequent reports implied that this might be a public relations strategy rather than a genuine policy shift. Furthermore, the Associated Press noted that the reduction in fentanyl seizures could be attributed to internal conflicts within the Sinaloa Cartel.
Internal divisions within the Pacific Cartel include feuds between Los Chapitos and rival groups like Los Rusos, who are connected to Ismael El Mayo Zambada, as well as with Aureliano Guzmán Loera, known as El Guano.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has indicated that the Sinaloa Cartel operates through an organized structure with different factions, led by Los Chapitos, El Mayo Zambada, El Guano, and Rafael Caro Quintero.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2024/07/22/guardia-nacional-decomisa-peluches-usados-por-narcos-para-transportar-cocaina-y-cristal/
