Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador stated Friday that his authorities had proof of fentanyl smuggling from China after authorities seized a fentanyl cargo from the Asian nation.
During his morning briefing, Lopez Obrador introduced {that a} cargo containing fentanyl was detected at a port on Mexico’s western coast a month after the Mexican president despatched a letter to Chinese chief Xi Jinping urging him to assist in controlling fentanyl trafficking from China.
“We have the evidence a shipment (that) arrived from a port in China in a container to the port of Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan. All the laboratory analysis has been done, and we will respectfully send this information with the same request that they help us to inform us when these chemicals leave and if it is possible that they prevent these chemicals from leaving their ports,” stated Lopez Obrador.
Following pressures from members of U.S. Congress who criticized the administration of Lopez Obrador for allegedly permitting drug cartels to smuggle fentanyl into the U.S. with impunity, the Mexican president held Chinese criminals chargeable for introducing fentanyl and fentanyl precursors into Mexican territory.
On April 4, Lopez Obrador despatched a letter asking the Chinese authorities to assist cease the alleged fentanyl shipments. However, Chinese authorities denied the Mexican allegations, with Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning saying that, in the intervening time, Mexico had not briefed the Chinese on fentanyl shipments.
“There is no such thing as illegal trafficking of fentanyl between China and Mexico. We two countries have a smooth channel of counternarcotics cooperation, and the competent authorities of the two countries maintain sound communication. China has not been notified by Mexico on the seizure of scheduled fentanyl precursors from China,” stated Ning.
According to Lopez Obrador, Mexico is reaching out to China on behalf of its neighbor to the north, saying that representatives of the Democrat and Republican events approached him and requested him to put in writing the letter to China.
Chinese authorities have maintained that the fentanyl disaster presently plaguing the U.S. is because of a scarcity of considerable measures to “strengthen domestic regulation and reduce demand.” They have additionally criticized the U.S. authorities for intervening in Mexico’s sovereignty.
“China firmly supports Mexico in defending independence and autonomy and opposing foreign interference and calls on relevant country to stop hegemonic practices against Mexico. At the same time, we hope the Mexican side will also take stronger counternarcotics actions,” stated Ning at a press convention on April 6.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
