SEMAR Lieutenant Dismisses NYT‘s Fentanyl Production Report
In a surprise announcement, Lieutenant Juana Peñaloza Ibarra of the Mexican Navy (SEMAR) has dismissed a recent report by The New York Times (NYT) on the production of fentanyl in clandestine labs in Culiacán, Sinaloa. The lieutenant, presented as a chemical analyst specializing in precursors, was joined by IMSS-Bienestar Director General Alejandro Svarch during a press conference hosted by President Claudia Sheinbaum. Together, they argued that the NYT report lacked credibility.
In her statement, Lieutenant Peñaloza highlighted several inconsistencies in the NYT article, "Thus is a Fentanyl Lab of the Sinaloa Cartel," questioning the authenticity of the shown process. She noted that the article did not mention or display key precursors required for synthesizing fentanyl, such as 4ANPP, aniline, and cloruro de propionilo. Instead, it focused on common chemicals like sodium hydroxide and acetone.
The lieutenant also pointed out the lack of necessary protective equipment used in the videotaped process. She emphasized that the use of gloves and self-contained breathing apparatuses is essential for handling such substances and preventing toxic gas inhalation or direct exposure to pure fentanyl.
Peñaloza also disputed the claim made by alleged "cookers" in the videos that they had developed a "tolerance to the lethal drug." She argued that there is no scientific evidence supporting this assertion and that the masks and face covers seen were likely used to conceal their identities.
After a thorough analysis, Lieutenant Peñaloza concluded that "there are not enough elements to demonstrate that the information presented in The New York Times article accurately documents a laboratory for synthesizing clorhidrato de fentanilo."
Who is Juana Peñaloza Ibarra?
Juana Peñaloza is a licensed chemist, biologist, and parasitologist from the Autonomous University of Guerrero. In 2021, she received her professional certificate (12362618) from the Secretary of Public Education’s National Registry of Professionals. That same year, Peñaloza won the Ceneval Award for outstanding performance in the Examen General para el Egreso de la Licenciatura (EGEL) in the field of Chemical Pharmacy.
President Sheinbaum Criticizes NYT’s Fentanyl Report
President Sheinbaum Pardo echoed Lieutenant Peñaloza’s sentiments during her conference, questioning the credibility of the NYT report. She argued that the debate centered around whether these types of articles, detailing drug production and trafficking, are based on reliable information. The president pointed out the illogical nature of the claim that subjects in the video had developed a "tolerance to lethal drugs" in light of the ongoing fentanyl-related deaths in the United States.
Despite criticizing the report, President Sheinbaum reiterated Mexico’s commitment to combating fentanyl trafficking. The government continues to prioritize efforts to dismantle criminal organizations involved in the production and distribution of fentanyl.
