Navy marines have located and destroyed four illegal narcotics laboratories and a shipping point in Sinaloa, along with 26 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine and 4,200 liters of the drug in liquid form.

The armed forces made incursions into remote locations in the municipalities of Culiacán and Cosalá yesterday, following reports of the existence of the narco-labs.

Two of the laboratories and the shipping point were located in northeastern Culiacán, along with five tonnes of solid methamphetamine and 4,200 liters of the liquid drug.

The two other narco-labs were located in Cosalá, where the federal forces found another 21 tonnes.

The fully-equipped laboratories were incinerated on site along with the drugs and other supplies.

The area is under the control of elements of the Sinaloa Cartel led by the sons of drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.

Another seizure took place in Baja California, where army soldiers confiscated four tonnes of crystal meth near the community of La Rumorosa in Tecate. Equipment and supplies used in the drug’s manufacture were also seized.

There were no arrests in either case.

Another operation by marines in Sinaloa, also near Culiacán, turned up 50 tonnes of meth on August 16. With an estimated value of US $5 billion, it was one of the largest synthetic drug seizures ever made in Mexico.

Source: El Universal (sp), Reforma (sp)