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CrimeCuliacán, Sinaloa, Mexico

Unveiling the Sinaloa Cartel's Fentanyl Lab

A shocking glimpse inside a secret lab shows how the powerful Sinaloa cartel produces fentanyl amidst chaos and rivalry.

By Natalie Kitroeff, Paulina Villegas and Meridith KohutSource: nytimes.com1 min read
Unveiling the Sinaloa Cartel's Fentanyl Lab
Image via nytimes.com

In brief

In Culiacán, Mexico, journalists documented the perilous workings of a Sinaloa cartel lab, revealing the deadly fentanyl production from a front-row seat. As violence erupts within the cartel, the stakes couldn't be higher.

In the heart of Culiacán, Mexico, reports unveiled a clandestine lab producing fentanyl for the notorious Sinaloa cartel. Journalists donned gas masks and hazmat suits to witness the chilling process first-hand. A young cartel cook, while mixing chemicals for an order of 10 kilograms of fentanyl, momentarily succumbed to the noxious fumes before he could regain his composure. This risky undertaking occurs against a backdrop of violent turf wars tearing the Sinaloa cartel apart, resulting in hundreds of deaths and significant economic strain. The Mexican government is scrambling to regain control, deploying soldiers and making numerous arrests. As the battle for dominance rages on, the world watches closely, shedding light on the deadly choice between riches and risk for those involved in this grim trade.

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