Two drug labs and marijuana greenhouses seized in Degollado

Reporting and context

Mexican federal forces seized two drug laboratories and two marijuana greenhouses in Degollado, Jalisco, in an operation authorities linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, according to Tribuna de la Bahía. Federal authorities reported the operation on November 13.

National Guard and Army personnel carried out the action in coordination with the federal organized crime prosecutor’s office, FEMDO, and the Criminal Investigation Agency. The report describes the authorization as an Orden Técnica de Investigación.

Tribuna de la Bahía reported that the facilities were used both to manufacture methamphetamine and to process and extract high-purity cannabidiol, or CBD, and tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, from marijuana. Authorities said they found specialized machinery for both activities, along with weapons and ammunition of various calibers. The account did not provide quantities for the weapons or ammunition.

The two greenhouses measured approximately 3,250 and 8,400 square meters, respectively, putting the covered cultivation area at more than 11,000 square meters. Those figures describe the installations targeted in this operation.

Investigators attributed the facilities to a criminal group headed by Heraclio “N,” known as “Tio Lako,” whom authorities identified as a regional CJNG leader. The statement cited in the report did not mention any arrests.

Authorities estimated that continued synthetic drug production at the sites could have generated about 17 million pesos in illicit revenue per month. They separately valued the installed infrastructure at 5 million pesos. These are official estimates of potential revenue and infrastructure value; the report did not describe those sums as cash seized.

Original reporting: Tribuna de la Bahía.