Mexican Drug Cartels Are Modernizing Their Clandestine Labs, Turning Them Into 'Mobile Kitchens'

As pressure from Mexican authorities continues to mount against drug trafficking cartels, a new report suggests that criminal organizations have evolved their synthetic drug production methods and shifted away from stationary "narco labs" to smaller, more mobile facilities.

According to Milenio, criminal groups across Mexico — particularly in the state of Sinaloa — are now using "micro mobile kitchens," or small labs designed to remain mobile while still producing large quantities of synthetic drugs.

The report notes that these so-called micro kitchens can manufacture more than 220 pounds of methamphetamine in just six hours. Each setup typically involves trailers or modified homes equipped with refrigerators, air conditioners, and generators for cooling. Beyond their high output, criminal organizations have favored these smaller labs because they are easier to hide.

Milenio learned of the existence of these micro mobile kitchens after following Mexican army troops during operations in the states of Sinaloa and Durango. By the time authorities arrived to the scene, the lab had already been dismantled by criminal groups, which burned buckets, plastic containers, and hoses used in the production of synthetic drugs.

"They can move them from one place to another. After operating, if they think they might be located, they dismantle the lab themselves and relocate it," said Porfirio Fuentes Vélez, commander of the 9th Military Zone in Culiacán, in an interview with the outlet. "Others have them set up on trailers, work for two, three, four hours... and then move them again."

Since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office in October 2024, Mexico has ramped up efforts to combat organized crime and drug production amid pressure and threats from the Trump administration.

Between October 2024 and April 2025, the Mexican Army seized 45 clandestine laboratories across the country, with 69% of them located in the state of Sinaloa alone. According to authorities, methamphetamine was the most commonly found drug, present in 44 of the cases.

Based on information obtained through the National Transparency Platform, Milenio reported that eight other states have had at least one clandestine lab seized by authorities since October 2024. Guerrero leads the list outside of Sinaloa, with three narco labs seized, followed by Baja California (2), Michoacán (2), and Guanajuato, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Nayarit, and Chihuahua with one each.