The Sinaloa Cartel, one of the two most powerful drug cartels operating in Mexico, have reportedly been leaving signs that they are banning the production of fentanyl at their labs, and killing those who do not comply. It is unclear whether this is a stance that will stick, or if it is just a temporary ban to take law enforcement pressure off the cartel.
According to Reuters, banners were put up along roads in the Mexican state of Sinaloa that read “The sale, manufacture, transportation or any type of business involving the substance known as fentanyl is strictly prohibited in Sinaloa.” The banners were signed by Los Chapitos, a group of four of former Sinaloa Cartel boss’ children who have taken control of much of the operations of the cartel since his imprisonment. The shift was allegedly handed down in June, and since then several of the cartel’s fentanyl labs have been ordered to be destroyed. Those who haven’t have been killed, according to a midlevel Sinaloa cartel operative who spoke to the Wall Street Journal.
As stated in a previous story in Federal Newswire, Ovidio Guzmán López, one of the four Los Chapitos, was extradited from Mexico to the U.S. in September to face trial for fentanyl trafficking. His extradition was seen as a possible sign that law enforcement in the U.S. and Mexico are going to crack down on fentanyl trafficking. U.S. officials have portrayed Los Chapitos as the main provider of fentanyl into the U.S. The U.S. government has been putting pressure on Mexico’s government to take action against cartels that are involved in illicit fentanyl trafficking.
According to The Week, the remaining sons of El Chapo are worried about arrest and extradition as well, which played into the fentanyl production ban. Officials in the U.S. and Mexico believe that this is meant to put the focus of anti-fentanyl efforts on their rival cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. They believe that this production ban is just a temporary public relations move.
According to Leo Silva, a former U.S. DEA agent who worked in Mexico, this move is "a ploy" to take the heat from law enforcement off of the Sinaloa Cartel. He doubted that they would permanently stop the production of fentanyl, as it makes too much money.
