Two suspected meth labs disabled in Topia
Original reporting: Notigram Nota Roja
What happened
Notigram reports that federal forces disabled two suspected laboratories near El Destierro, with authorities estimating a combined economic impact of 548.3 million pesos.
Reporting and context
Mexican federal forces disabled two suspected methamphetamine laboratories near El Destierro, in the municipality of Topia, Durango, seizing drugs, chemicals and production equipment, according to a report by Notigram Nota Roja.
The Navy carried out the operation with the federal Security and Citizen Protection Ministry and the federal prosecutor's office. According to Notigram Nota Roja, authorities estimated the economic impact on the illicit operations at 548,306,505 pesos across the two sites. That is an official estimate for this operation, not a year-to-date total.
At the first laboratory, personnel reported finding approximately 3,000 liters of liquid methamphetamine, 100 liters of P2P, 50 liters of toluene and 1,000 kilograms of caustic soda. The inventory also included 12,000 liters of hydrochloric acid, 2,500 liters of sulfuric acid, 1,100 kilograms of cyanide and 1,000 liters of benzyl alcohol.
Notigram Nota Roja reported that equipment at that site included seven reactors with distillers, two reactors with double distillers, six motor pumps and 40 gas cylinders, each with a capacity of 45 kilograms. Authorities put the first site's estimated economic impact at 364,621,955 pesos.
At the second laboratory, the federal inventory listed approximately 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and another 500 kilograms of methamphetamine paste. It also recorded 500 liters of P2P, 600 kilograms of aluminum, 1,000 kilograms of tartaric acid, 500 kilograms of urea and 1,000 kilograms of caustic soda. Other chemicals included 2,800 liters of acetone, 3,000 liters of sulfuric acid and 2,000 liters of toluene.
The second site's equipment included four generators, two scales, four burners and multiple 500-liter vats. Authorities estimated its economic impact at 183,684,550 pesos. The report describes both facilities as suspected synthetic-drug production sites but does not identify the organization operating them or report any arrests.
Original reporting: Notigram Nota Roja.