Navy reports 1.3 metric tons of meth at Durango lab

Reporting and context

The Mexican Navy led an operation that disabled a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Carricitos, Durango, where authorities reported seizing approximately 1,308 kilograms of the drug. According to Proyecto Puente, the federal Security and Citizen Protection Secretariat announced the operation on October 16.

Officials said the methamphetamine total comprised 750 kilograms of finished product and 558 kilograms of material still drying. They separately reported seizing 4,500 liters of chemical precursors and 2,902 kilograms of solid chemical substances used in synthetic-drug production.

Proyecto Puente reported that intelligence work led authorities to the site, where they found a reactor with a 600-liter capacity, a centrifuge, 28 burners and six tubs capable of holding 500 liters each. Gas cylinders, water pumps and other production tools were also found at the laboratory.

The official statement said the equipment and materials were disabled to prevent their reuse. The Navy coordinated the operation with the security secretariat and the federal Attorney General’s Office, according to the Security Cabinet statement reproduced in the article.

The security secretariat estimated the economic impact on organized crime at 163.56 million pesos for this operation. That figure is the authorities’ estimate; the 1,308-kilogram drug total, the liquid precursors and the solid chemicals are separate categories reported in the seizure inventory.

Original report — Proyecto Puente