The Deadly Alliance Between Mexican Drug Cartels and Chinese Wildlife Traffickers
Mexican drug cartels have formed a lethal alliance, connecting the country’s rich biodiversity with China’s insatiable demand for illegal wildlife products. These cartels are secretly poaching endangered Mexican species to trade with Chinese criminal organizations for chemical precursors used in manufacturing the deadly fentanyl.
The Intersection of Two Destructive Illegal Businesses
This criminal operation, starting with outright theft from the nation and then smuggling to China, signifies a significant and alarming convergence of two of the world’s most destructive illegal businesses: wildlife trafficking and narcotics.
The Scale of the Illegal Wildlife Trade from Mexico to China
The illegal wildlife trade from Mexico to China is a multibillion-dollar industry affecting a wide range of species. Among the most sought-after are:
- Totoaba Silverfish: A critically endangered Mexican fish, its swim bladder is highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine and as a delicacy. In China, these fish fetch exorbitant prices in the black market, often exceeding the value of gold.
- Cucumbers of the Sea: These coastal invertebrates from Mexico are popular delicacies in China.
- Sharks: The fins of various shark species are coveted for shark fin soup, a symbol of status in Chinese culture.
- Jaguars: These iconic large felines are hunted for their claws, teeth, and pelts used in traditional medicine and decorative items.
- Reptiles: Various turtle and other reptile species are captured and illegally traded for the pet trade, meat, and skin.
- Wood: Precious hardwoods like rosewood are illegally logged and smuggled to China for luxury furniture production.
Sophisticated and Brutal Mechanisms of This Deadly Trade
Mexican cartels have asserted control over legal and illegal fishing and wildlife operations. They often act as intermediaries, forcing poachers and local fishermen to sell their illegal catches directly to them at a fraction of the market value.
These illicit wildlife products are then smuggled to China through complex international networks. Once in China, they are sold at exorbitant profits.
Instead of repatriating the money, which could alert financial authorities, cartels use these profits to purchase essential chemical precursors for synthesizing fentanyl. These precursors are then shipped to clandestine labs in Mexico, where cartels produce the potent synthetic opioid for distribution primarily in the United States.
Devastating Consequences of This Criminal Convergence
This nefarious trade is accelerating the destruction of Mexico’s unique and fragile ecosystems, leading to numerous species facing extinction. Yet, this issue remains largely unnoticed.
China’s Role in Fueling the Fentanyl Crisis
China, through various channels, is directly contributing to the fentanyl crisis in the United States. Despite U.S. protests about China’s significant presence in Mexico, the Mexican government has shown little response.
Instead of substantial action, minor police raids in Chinese-dominated neighborhoods have been conducted, causing surprise within the Mexican government regarding U.S. insistence on breaking ties with Chinese criminals.
U.S. Pressure on Mexico to Address the Issue
The U.S. has persistently urged Mexico to take decisive action against cartels, halt fentanyl trafficking, curb illegal immigration, reduce the trade deficit, promote economic prosperity, and counter malign actors beyond continental borders.
Specifically, the U.S. views China and Chinese individuals as malign actors threatening U.S. and global security and stability.
Secretary Rubio’s upcoming visit to Mexico and Ecuador aims to emphasize the need for increased international cooperation and enhanced law enforcement efforts in both Mexico and the U.S. to combat this multifaceted Chinese threat.
The U.S. is indifferent to China exhausting Mexico’s natural resources, as long as it serves as a loophole for evading money laundering detection systems. The U.S. has established complex mechanisms to detect global contraband of arms, drugs, money, and people by designating cartels as “International Terrorist Organizations.”
If Mexico does not join the solution, Trump views it as part of the problem. Moreover, Mexicans cannot ignore that China, in exchange for fentanyl, is exploiting Mexico’s natural resources.
