Headline: Outgoing US Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, Acknowledges Fentanyl Production in Mexico
In his final hours as the US Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar has spoken out about the contentious issue of fentanyl production in Mexico. "I’ve worked with Sedena, Semar, and the Attorney General’s Office," said Salazar, "I know there’s fentanyl in Mexico and it’s also produced here."
The US representative emphasized that debating where drugs are produced won’t solve the problem. Salazar categorized fentanyl as a global health issue, requiring joint intervention from Mexico and the US, along with other nations.
Salazar’s comments come a day after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum refuted claims in a New York Times report suggesting that criminal organizations are using conventional kitchens to produce fentanyl.
Now, outgoing US Ambassador Ken Salazar has chimed in, reminding Mexico’s President-elect AMLO and Sheinbaum that fentanyl production is indeed a problem in Mexico.
Salazar also admitted that he didn’t deliver a report on the capture of Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, as requested by the Mexican government. Zambada, a leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, was arrested in July 2022 at El Paso airport in Texas. Both former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and current President Sheinbaum have pressed the US for information on this case.
"We continue working together to dismantle organized crime," Salazar said, highlighting joint efforts between Mexico and the US, especially in ports like Manzanillo, where they’re collaborating to combat illicit activities. "It’s about working together, shoulder to shoulder, for security and to dismantle the Pacific Cartel of Sinaloa," he added.
As Salazar departs his post, the fentanyl issue and collaboration in fighting organized crime remain critical aspects of the US-Mexico relationship.
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