1 Mexico has seized an 18-kilo fentanyl haul, highlighting efforts to combat drug smuggling amid Trump's proposed tariffs. 2 The latest seizure is just a drop in the ocean compared to previous hauls, such as the one million pills seized in December. 3 President Sheinbaum claims that precursors for fentanyl are not being manufactured in Mexico, but Mexican cartels are at the heart of a synthetic narcotics crisis in the US. 4 The White House has stated that the 25 percent tariff on Mexican goods will take effect this Saturday. 5 Mexico is putting on a show to save its cash-strapped economy from the looming tariffs and the human cost of drug trafficking must be taken into account.

Mexico's Huge Fentanyl Seizure Prior to Tariff Deadline A Desperate Effort at Damage Control?

Mexico's recent announcement of an 18-kilo fentanyl seizure in a bus is nothing short of a desperate attempt by the government to save its economy from Trump's looming 25 percent tariff. With drug trafficking and migrant flows being cited as the main reasons for the proposed tariffs, Mexico has been scrambling to highlight increased efforts to combat drug smuggling.

However, let us not be fooled - this latest haul is just a drop in the ocean compared to the one million pills seized back in December, which was heralded as the largest seizure of fentanyl in history. President Sheinbaum's claims that precursors for fentanyl are not being manufactured in Mexico should also not deceive us. The fact is that Mexican cartels are at the heart of a synthetic narcotics crisis in the US, and most of the chemicals used to make it come from China.

So why the sudden urgency? Because the White House has stated that the 25 percent tariff on Mexican goods will take effect this Saturday - leaving Mexico with no choice but to put on a show for its cash-strapped economy. The sad reality is that fentanyl is big business for cartels, and they'll do whatever it takes to keep profits high.

However, let us not forget about the human cost of drug trafficking tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the US linked to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. It's time to get serious about cracking down on these Mexican cartels before more lives are lost.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.