MEXICO CITY – In a groundbreaking operation, Mexican soldiers and marines have confiscated over a ton of fentanyl pills during two raids in northern Mexico, marking the largest haul of this potent synthetic opioid in the nation's history.

This significant seizure comes at a crucial juncture, just days after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose hefty 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico unless both nations intensified their efforts to combat the trafficking of drugs and the influx of migrants across the U.S. border.

On Tuesday night, security forces in the northern state of Sinaloa, notorious for its association with powerful drug cartels, pursued two armed suspects. The chase led them to two residences where authorities unearthed approximately 660 pounds (300 kilograms) of fentanyl in one location, while the second house yielded a staggering 1,750 pounds (800 kilograms)—primarily in pill form.

Public Safety Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch acknowledged the operation's success in a social media update, stating, “In Sinaloa, we achieved the biggest seizure in history of fentanyl.” Along with the drugs, several firearms were also confiscated, and two individuals were arrested.

Interestingly, this raid follows a notable decline in fentanyl seizures in Mexico earlier this year. At one point, the federal government reported that seizures had dwindled to just 50 grams (two ounces) per week under the administration of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. This drastic reduction has raised eyebrows and prompted scrutiny of Mexico's drug enforcement strategies.

Recent statistics indicate that between January and June 2024, Mexican federal forces seized a mere 286 pounds (130 kilograms) of fentanyl nationwide, representing a staggering 94% decrease from the 5,135 pounds (2,329 kilograms) seized in the previous year.

Fentanyl has been a major contributor to the opioid crisis in the United States, linked to around 70,000 overdose deaths annually. This alarming figure has prompted U.S. officials to ramp up their efforts to intercept fentanyl as it crosses the border, often disguised as counterfeit medications created from precursor chemicals primarily sourced from China.

López Obrador has persistently denied that fentanyl is manufactured within Mexico’s borders, despite acknowledgment from experts—including some from his administration—that the drug's production is indeed occurring in the country.

As negotiations regarding trade and drug trafficking intensify between the U.S. and Mexico, this massive seizure may signal a turning point in the battle against the fentanyl epidemic that is devastating communities on both sides of the border.