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Mexico Institute in the News: Mexico Seizes Record Amount of Methamphetamine

Eric L. Olson

Methamphetamine was seized from the Sinaloa cartel. An amount of meth this large shows more what the cartel may be capable of.

The New York Times, February 9, 2012; United Press International, February 10, 2012 Mexican authorities announced their largest methamphetamine seizure ever late Wednesday: 15 tons, found in pure powder form at a ranch outside Guadalajara. It was about 13 million doses worth $4 billion — more than double the size of all meth seizures at the Mexican border in 2011… …Over all, experts said, meth appears to be providing an increasingly important revenue stream for the cartel, and the seizure this week is likely to have little long-term impact. 

“It’s important to keep the seizure in perspective,”

 said Eric Olson, a security expert at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. 

“It’s huge. Eye-popping. But seizures, even huge ones, don’t generally change the demand for the drug in the long run. If a seizure of this magnitude raises the street price, consumption may go down for a time, but it is only a matter of time until the market adjusts and the supply comes back up.”

  Read the full article at the New York Times here, or a similar article at United Press International here.

About the Author

Eric L. Olson

Eric L. Olson

Global Fellow;
Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Seattle International Foundation
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Mexico Institute

The Mexico Institute seeks to improve understanding, communication, and cooperation between Mexico and the United States by promoting original research, encouraging public discussion, and proposing policy options for enhancing the bilateral relationship. A binational Advisory Board, chaired by Luis Téllez and Earl Anthony Wayne, oversees the work of the Mexico Institute.   Read more