Mexico’s Security Ministry reported the dismantling of two clandestine warehouses in Sinaloa and the seizure of 200 kg of methamphetamine, 20 kg of marijuana and chemical precursors valued at 1.9 billion pesos (US $99.5 million) as part of Operación Frontera Norte.
On May 14, 2025, Mexico’s Security Ministry announced the latest results of Operación Frontera Norte, its intensive campaign targeting criminal networks along the northern frontier. According to an official release, security forces dismantled two clandestine warehouses in Sinaloa over the weekend, confiscating 200 kilograms of methamphetamine, 20 kilograms of marijuana and a cache of chemical substances and precursors—properties officials valued at 1.9 billion pesos (US $99.5 million).
The two Sinaloa warehouse raids represent the largest single haul in the operation’s recent history. In coordination with state prosecutors and federal agents, teams executed pre-dawn raids, securing forensic evidence and arresting local suspects. Officials say the sophistication of the labs—complete with industrial mixers and high-purity distillation equipment—points to a cartel-level production network capable of supplying both domestic and U.S. markets.
Just one week prior, authorities carried out a separate sweep that resulted in the arrest of 21 individuals and the dismantling of seven additional drug‐processing sites. That action uncovered 25,000 liters of chemical precursors and 95 kilograms of more refined fentanyl base, with an estimated street value of US $29 million, underscoring the operation’s multi-phased approach to disrupting precursor pipelines.
Between May 9 and 11, the SSPC conducted a series of interdictions across Chihuahua and Tamaulipas, yielding nearly 116,000 kilograms of cocaine, 25 kilograms of marijuana and more than 3,000 kilograms of fentanyl. In these actions, officers also seized semi-automatic rifles, pistols and large quantities of ammunition and magazines, reflecting the dual threat of drug and arms trafficking in border zones.
In coordinated sweeps spanning Baja California, Chihuahua, Nuevo León, Sinaloa, Sonora and Tamaulipas, security forces detained 16 suspects and impounded three properties suspected of serving as cartel safe houses. Additional measures included dismantling 36 illicit surveillance cameras, confiscating five cell phones, seizing 11 vehicles and recovering over US $662,000 in cash, highlighting the financial and logistical reach of organized crime networks.
Accompanying the operational statistics, the Security Ministry underscored that every phase of Operación Frontera Norte is executed “in the strictest adherence to the rule of law and with full respect for the rights” of those apprehended. The statement also reflected mounting tensions between the executive and judicial branches, as Security Minister Omar García Harfuch publicly criticized recent court rulings that led to the release of suspects, warning that the Federal Attorney General’s Office is preparing charges against several judges implicated in those decisions.
Launched on February 5, 2025, Operación Frontera Norte was designed to tackle drug trafficking, human smuggling and arms proliferation along Mexico’s 3,152-kilometer northern boundary. Since inception, the SSPC reports 3,219 arrests of suspected cartel operatives, the decommissioning of 2,717 firearms, and the confiscation of 437,619 rounds of ammunition and 13,441 magazines, making it one of the most extensive security initiatives in recent memory.
Beyond seizures and arrests, officials highlight the destruction of 31,600 kilograms of illicit substances—including nearly 178 kilograms of high-purity fentanyl precursors—effectively crippling portions of the production chain. The campaign has also resulted in the seizure of 2,515 vehicles used for smuggling and the appropriation of 412 properties suspected of laundering proceeds or facilitating logistics.
Despite these gains, U.S. policymakers caution that more work remains. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged in March 2025 that Mexico’s law-enforcement cooperation has reached unprecedented levels, yet the overall volume of drugs entering American communities has not seen a commensurate decline, underlining persistent enforcement and intelligence-sharing challenges.
Complicating bilateral efforts, a U.S. freeze on foreign aid disrupted key anti-narcotics programs in Mexico earlier this year. Funding for the Container Control Programme—tasked with enhancing cargo-screening at the Port of Manzanillo—was paused under a global aid moratorium, delaying donations of drug-sniffing canines and specialized scanners critical for detecting smuggled precursor chemicals.
Analysts warn that judicial inefficiencies and fragmentary institutional coordination continue to hinder long-term success. While Operación Frontera Norte demonstrates a more aggressive federal posture, the premature release of suspects on technicalities and prolonged court backlogs weaken deterrence. Experts argue that only through comprehensive judicial reform—streamlining extradition, reducing procedural delays and bolstering courtroom security—can Mexico sustain pressure on criminal organizations.
Meanwhile, the Federal Attorney General’s Office is reportedly preparing formal charges against judges named by Security Minister García Harfuch for controversial rulings, signaling a rare push for judicial accountability. As Mexico balances robust security operations with the need for due-process guarantees, the success of Operación Frontera Norte will hinge on both continued law-enforcement momentum and systemic legal reforms to ensure cartels cannot exploit loopholes in the justice system.
