A new “Golden Triangle” Fentanyl and the gun between Mexico According to new AA research, the United States links homicides and excessive crises in both countries.
The triangle spans Baja, Sinaloa and Sonora in California – nearly all three states in Mexico with fentanyl seizures – and connects to Arizona through quieter parts United States-Mexico border This has become a hot spot in both directions of trafficking.
The rise of fentanyl for synthetic opioids has been Sweeping away the ancient golden triangles of Sinaloa, Durango and Chihuahua, it has been the center of Mexico’s heroin production for decades.
Data from Mexico’s Ministry of Defense from 1990 to 2024 show that 92% of fentanyl powder is in Baja CaliforniaSinaloa and Sonora, while the figures for fentanyl tablets are 96%.
A new report on the global initiative against the wisdom of transnational organisations’ organic crimes says this overwhelming concentration of seizures may reflect the dominance of the Sinaloa cartel in fentanyl production and trafficking, thanks to the chemistry pioneering through Pacific ports, economic integration across borders and “decades of experience”.
But this can also reflect the focus of law enforcement efforts, in the crosshairs of the U.S. and Mexican authorities, the Sinaloa cartel.
Similar biases exist in the border itself, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, About half Fentanyl captured at the port of entry in Arizona was caught entering the United States, with most of the rest coming from California.
In another direction, Arizona’s role in gun trafficking has also soared in recent years, as the person emphasized Mexican government lawsuit There are five gun shops.
Between January 1 and July 24 last year Arizona It is the source of 57% of guns purchased in Mexico and traces back less than a year ago in the United States, a key indicator of whether or not to buy guns with trafficking intentions.
Cecilia Farfán-Méndez, the report’s lead author, said the prominent position of the Arizona Sonora border in fentanyl and gun trafficking “emphasizes the link between the two markets.”
It also links homicides to the epidemic of excessive death through a vicious cycle Mexico.
Mexico has the highest homicide rate in the world, with 24 per 100,000 people. About 70% of homicides in Mexico are caused by guns, and more than two-thirds of those recovered from crime scenes and submitted for tracing are sourced from the United States.
But in the United States, the mortality rate of overdose is also high, with 21.5 per 100,000 people. Most excessive deaths are caused by fentanyl.
In some states, such as West Virginia, the excess mortality rate is overdose at the level of homicide rates in Mexico’s most violent countries.
“Narration [place] “The casualties and costs of the global drug war in the South are inaccurate in the context of synthetic opioids, especially fentanyl,” the authors wrote.
Mexico has been under intense pressure to show that it is addressing fentanyl trafficking, and the Trump administration has designated six Mexican organized criminal organizations (including the Sinaloa Cartel) as Foreign terrorist organizations (ftos).
One thing that the FTO name can be used is to prosecute individuals involved in gun trafficking, who clearly provide “material support” to such groups in Mexico.
But for the moment, despite the recent phenyl seizures on the border, the situation in the United States remains unchanged.
“No reported deficiencies or price changes [in the US]”This shows that we don’t have a small amount of fentanyl,” Farfán-Méndez said.
Health & Wellness Contributor
A wellness enthusiast and certified nutrition advisor, Meera covers everything from healthy living tips to medical breakthroughs. Her articles aim to inform and inspire readers to live better every day.
