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1 1 (December 9, 2022)

handle is hein.crs/govejru0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informing the legislative d~bato since 1914 Updated December 9, 2022 Trends in Mexican Opioid Trafficking and Implications for U.S.-Mexico Security Cooperation As a primary source of and transit country for illicit drugs destined for the United States, Mexico is a key factor in U.S. drug control policy. Included among the illicit drugs produced in Mexico are heroin and fentanyl-substances whose consumption is central to the epidemic of U.S. opioid overdose deaths. As policymakers search for solutions to the ongoing domestic opioid crisis, some Member of Congress may seek to prioritize combating opioids as an issue for U.S.-Mexico security cooperation. U.S. Estimates of Mexican Opiurm Poppy Cultivation and Heroin Production Heroin is a highly addictive and internationally controlled semi-synthetic opioid processed from morphine extracted from certain types of opium poppy plants. Latin America has featured as the main source of U.S.-consumed heroin in recent decades. Although less than 10% of global opium poppy cultivation occurs in Mexico, the majority of U.S.- seized heroin originates in Mexico. According to the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Mexican opium poppy farmers cultivated 28,600 hectares in 2021 (up 23% compared with 2020), resulting in an estimated 72 metric tons of potential pure heroin (up 22% from 2020). In 2019, the most recent year for which publicly available data are available, Mexican- sourced heroin accounted for 92% of the total weight of U.S.-seized heroin analyzed in the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA's) Heroin Signature Program. Figure 1. Opium Poppy Cultivation in Mexico change from previous year 0 37.8% hectares under cultivation 27.3% 64.7% 4s 54.; 4 8% 5 2 2412 2'13 2014 2415 2016 2417 2018 2C1 I' % 2020 2021 Source: The Office of National Drug Control Policy Announces the 2021 Estimate of Poppy Cultivation and Potential Heroin Production in Mexico, May 27, 2022. Illicit Fentanyl Production and Trafficking Trends Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid significantly more potent than heroin and approved for medical use as a painkiller and anesthetic. Licit fentanyl may be diverted through theft and fraudulent prescriptions. Fentanyl and fentanyl-like substances (i.e., analogues) also can be produced clandestinely. At present, most U.S.-destined illicit fentanyl appears to be produced clandestinely in Mexico, using chemical inputs (i.e., precursors) from the People's Republic of China (PRC). India may also be a source of precursors for fentanyl production in Mexico. Although some fentanyl precursors are subject to international controls, others may be produced and exported legally from certain countries, such as China. Mexican transnational criminal organizations (TCOs)- particular the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)-appear to be largely responsible for the procurement of precursors from Asia (via maritime and air ports of entry). TCOs also manufacture wholesale volumes of low-purity illicit fentanyl in Mexico and control the cross-border trafficking of fentanyl into the United States. Domestically, U.S.-based TCO affiliates distribute illicit fentanyl at the retail level. According to the U.S. Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking, Mexican TCO suppliers traffic illicit fentanyl into the United States, primarily across the hittps://crsreports~corigress go) 0