Mexican troops have made the largest fentanyl seizure in the nation's history, occurring just days after President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to impose tariffs aimed at curbing drug smuggling across the border, according to CNN.
"This is the biggest seizure of fentanyl pills ever recorded," Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated during her daily press conference on Wednesday. Authorities confiscated over a ton of synthetic opioids in the cartel-dominated state of Sinaloa.
Last week, Trump declared he would implement a 25 percent tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada unless both countries took stronger action against illegal immigration and drug trafficking at the U.S. border, as reported by the Associated Press.
"This tariff will remain until drugs, especially fentanyl, and all illegal immigrants cease their invasion of our country!" Trump posted on his Truth Social platform last week.
Security analyst David Saucedo commented to the Associated Press that the Mexican government has been strategically managing the timing of fentanyl seizures. However, under pressure from Trump, it seems that President Sheinbaum's administration is now more inclined to intensify efforts against drug traffickers and increase seizures as demanded by Washington.
Sinaloa is known as the base for the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world's most powerful drug trafficking organizations, which is believed to be responsible for smuggling significant quantities of drugs, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States.
In connection with this historic drug bust, two men were arrested, and several weapons were seized during the operation.
"These actions will continue until we see a reduction in violence in Sinaloa," stated Mexico’s top security official, Omar Garcia Harfuch, on X early Wednesday.