Sinaloa Cartel Recruits Chemistry Students for Fentanyl Production in Clandestine Labs

Dec 2, 2024, 01:31 PM

Mexican cartels, notably the Sinaloa Cartel, are reportedly recruiting university chemistry students to produce fentanyl and its precursor chemicals, aiming to reduce dependency on Chinese imports for drug production. According to a New York Times report, these criminal organizations are offering significant financial incentives to students to develop methods for synthesizing the potent drug, potentially exacerbating the fentanyl crisis. The students are tasked with working in clandestine labs to enhance the drug's addictive quality. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has denied having any information about this recruitment, humorously suggesting that the report might have been inspired by the TV series 'Breaking Bad.'