Mexican Authorities Seize And Destroy Clandestine Drug Lab Allegedly Used By Los Chapitos To Produce Meth

In a coordinated operation involving Mexico's Attorney General's Office (FGR) and the Navy, federal authorities in Sinaloa seized and neutralized a clandestine laboratory allegedly used by Los Chapitos to produce synthetic drugs, including methamphetamine.

The operation took place in La Palma, a small community of about 300 residents located in a mountainous area near the Sinaloa-Chihuahua state border.

According to a statement from the Mexican Navy, authorities seized approximately 250 kilograms of methamphetamine in the drying process, along with 650 liters of liquid chemical precursors and 2,425 kilograms of solid precursors.

Federal sources say the lab in La Palma belonged to Los Chapitos, one of two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel battling for control in the state since September 2024.

In addition to the drugs, FGR and Navy personnel confiscated tools used by criminal groups, including liquefied petroleum gas tanks, chemical drums, and plastic tubs.

The lab, along with the chemicals and equipment, was destroyed on-site. The Navy emphasized that destroying clandestine labs is part of ongoing efforts to combat the production and distribution of synthetic drugs, including fentanyl.

In April alone, state and federal officials neutralized 20 "narco labs" allegedly used by drug cartels to produce synthetic drugs. The majority of the labs were found in the municipalities of Culiacán, Cosalá, and Navolato, according to the Sinaloa Secretariat of Public Safety.

One operation led to the seizure of approximately 600 liters of chemical precursors, as well as several industrial blenders used to mix powders, chemicals, and liquids.

As pressure from former President Donald Trump mounts on Mexican authorities to curb the flow of illicit drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border, Mexican officials have increased efforts in recent weeks to combat drug trafficking.

Trump has threatened to impose higher tariffs and additional sanctions if Mexico does not act more aggressively against drug smuggling and illegal immigration.

However, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), fentanyl trafficking has dropped by 64.3% under the administration of Claudia Sheinbaum, preventing nearly 500 million doses of the lethal synthetic opioid from entering the U.S. in just a few months.

Between October 2024 and February 2025, CBP reported seizing 564 pounds of fentanyl at U.S.-Mexico border entry points. By comparison, Mexican authorities under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador seized 1,586 pounds of fentanyl between May and September 2024—nearly triple the amount.

According to Mexican outlet MILENIO, the decline was most noticeable in December and February, when only 24 and 25 pounds of fentanyl were seized, respectively—marking the lowest monthly seizure volumes since 2021.