The Mexican Navy (Semar) announced a massive blow against the Sinaloa Cartel's Los Mayos faction after dismantling two methamphetamine laboratories in Durango. The joint federal operation resulted in the seizure of 21 tons of processed drugs and chemical precursors, with an estimated value of about 390 million dollars.
The bust took place in the rural community of Carricitos, Durango, where Semar agents located two clandestine facilities used for large-scale meth production. Officials confirmed that the seizure represents the largest capture of finished methamphetamine product carried out by naval forces during the current administration.
According to the official statement, reported by the Mexican media, the raid involved coordinated participation from the Mexican Army (Sedena), the Attorney General's Office (FGR), the National Guard, and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC).
In addition to the methamphetamine, authorities secured a significant cache of precursors: 1,000 liters of hydrochloric acid, 200 liters of acetic acid, 1,000 liters of toluene, 200 liters of benzyl cyanide, 250 liters of phenyl-2-propanone (P2P), 575 kilograms of caustic soda, and 200 kilograms of sodium cyanide. All materials were placed under federal custody.
The drugs and chemicals confiscated in Durango prevented approximately 525 million doses from entering the illegal market, Semar said.
Targeting Los Mayos
Authorities confirmed that the labs were operating in a territory under the influence of the Sinaloa Cartel, specifically its Los Mayos faction. Los Mayos, long led by Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, are known for controlling methamphetamine production and international distribution routes.
The operation is considered the second-largest meth lab dismantlement by the Navy in recent years. The largest was reported in February 2024 in Quiriego, Sonora, where Semar seized more than 35 tons of meth and enough chemicals to produce 41 additional tons. That lab was also linked to the Sinaloa Cartel.
Officials estimated that the Durango seizure inflicted a financial loss of more than 6.5 billion pesos on organized crime networks. The destruction of the superlabs also reduces the flow of meth bound for lucrative foreign markets including the United States, Canada, Australia, Spain, and Japan, where prices for synthetic drugs are significantly higher.
Security experts noted that such large-scale operations disrupt cartel logistics but often prompt criminal groups to relocate and rebuild production elsewhere. Mexican authorities acknowledged this challenge, saying that constant intelligence work is necessary to detect new facilities before they become fully operational.
The Mexican Navy emphasized that the fight against synthetic drug production remains a top priority, given the environmental damage and public health risks associated with clandestine labs. Methamphetamine use has fueled addiction and violence across Mexico and has become a major driver of overdose deaths in the U.S.
While no arrests were reported during the Durango raid, officials highlighted the importance of removing industrial-scale production from cartel control. Semar confirmed that all seized chemicals and narcotics will be destroyed under federal supervision to ensure safety and compliance with environmental regulations.
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