(Mexico City) The United States has announced sanctions against Mexicans accused of being part of a network trafficking fentanyl, a synthetic drug that kills thousands in the United States, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced on Wednesday. visiting Mexico.
The new measures announced by the US Treasury target 15 individuals and two companies linked to the cartel of Mexican drug trafficker Beltran Leyva.
“This cartel transported tons of cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States for decades. Now it produces and transports fentanyl as well,” said Mr.me Yellen visiting Mexico City until Thursday.
“Opioids, including synthetic opiates like illegally manufactured fentanyl, are the deadliest, killing more than 1,500 people per week,” continued M.me Yellen, according to whom fentanyl is the leading cause of death among 18-49 year olds in the United States.
During her visit, the Secretary of the Treasury recalled the international challenges of the fight against fentanyl: “Today, the majority of chemical precursors of illegally manufactured fentanyl come from China and are transformed into fentanyl in Mexico. The fentanyl is then smuggled across the border into the United States.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that the measures taken in coordination with Mexico “underscore the need for continued international cooperation.”
Mme Yellen is scheduled to meet with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Finance Secretary Rogelio Ramírez de la O on Thursday.
She met with Central Bank Governor Victoria Rodriguez on Wednesday, also participating in a discussion on financial delinquency.
The Treasury Secretary also met with senior business leaders at a time when Washington is trying to relocate its supply chains to its trusted partners (“friendshoring”).
“Mexico is particularly well placed to capitalize on the opportunities offered by “friendshoring” in our region,” she declared to journalists, highlighting “the robust macroeconomic stability” of Mexico.
Governments must, however, create “a robust investment environment”, including infrastructure, a skilled workforce, “regulatory stability and the rule of law”.
Mexico became the United States’ largest trading partner for goods this year.