Marcelo Ebrard urged G20 foreign ministers to end international arms and fentanyl trafficking

During his speech at the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting, the Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard make a call for curb he international traffic fire armson the one hand, and illegal trade in fentanyl, on the other hand, in order to avoid a larger supply in the future.

The Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) participated in the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in New Delhi, India, which brings together the world’s largest economies. In front of his counterparts, Ebrard Casaubón called on member countries to strengthen measures to combat arms trafficking, mainly small and light. The above, he said, “for the Shame they produce in cities like Mexico City”.

In this sense, he pointed out that the country governed by Andrés Manuel López Obrador has highlighted the need to fight international arms chains which are the subject of illegal trade, including their unauthorized export and the profits derived therefrom.

Ebrard pointed out that if action is not taken in this regard, the supply of arms internationally will continue to increase due to possible conflicts that may arise in the future, which in turn could contribute to the increase levels of violence and terrorism.

“(We should) propose between all of us a greater commitment and greater effectiveness in combating this phenomenon, because with the availability of the weapons that we have now and that which will arise from the ongoing conflicts (…) we are going to have more and more weapons and increased availability of weapons, greater possibility also of terrorism and violence”

Under this tenor, the Mexican Minister for Foreign Affairs referred to the war in ukrainewhich not only had an impact on food security and energy prices, but also “oversupply” of arms whose illegal trade must be prevented, he stressed.

With regard to international chains focused on the supply of illegal drugs, Marcelo Ebrard paid particular attention to the fentanylwhich caused a wave of overdose deaths in the United States (it is estimated that in 2022 nearly 100 thousand peopleI come from this country deceased because of said synthetic opioid, which is 50 times stronger than heroin).

Due to its lethality, the Foreign Relations Secretary has indicated that an “international cooperation framework” is needed, focusing on the fight against the whole chain, from its production to trafficking and illicit profits arising from its marketing.

In Mexico, the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) are the two criminal organizations responsible for trafficking fentanyl into the United States. Although said opioid is manufactured in clandestine laboratories, the chemical precursors used in its manufacture come from China, according to intelligence reports. Hence the importance of international cooperation.

Marcelo Ebrard’s appeal comes a day after the United States Attorney General, Merrick Garlandwill ensure that the Mexican government can take greater measures to prevent drug trafficking from entering the neighboring country, especially fentanyl. “They help us, but they could do a lot more. I have no doubt about that.”said during an appearance before the US Senate.

This is why Garland did not object to the State Department declaring the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels Nueva Generación as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO, for its acronym in English), because of the impact they have on American soil. However, he warned that to fight them, the mutual support of the Mexican government is needed.