Cartels in Mexico are transforming residential properties into fentanyl production facilities in Colima.
In the heart of western Mexico, the city of Colima is making headlines for two contrasting reasons. On one hand, it's known for its long sandy beaches and luxurious Moor-style hotels that attract tourists, who can spend up to £200 a night for a stay. On the other hand, Colima has been labelled as the most deadly city in the world, according to a report by The Citizen Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice (CCPSCJ).
The city, home to 330,000 people, has been a battleground for three different gangs, intensifying the power struggle. One of the key factors contributing to this violence is the production of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that is more powerful than heroin or cocaine.
The production of fentanyl has become a lucrative source of income for these gangs, with one worker in Colima filling around 21,000 capsules of fentanyl a week. The Mexican gang behind this operation is associated with the Sinaloa Cartel, which is heavily involved in fentanyl production and distribution. They use precursor chemicals imported mainly from China to manufacture the drug clandestinely in homes within the city and surrounding areas.
The workers producing fentanyl are paid approximately US$280 for their work, and the drug can sell for a higher price due to its potency. Last year, Colima recorded a shocking rate of 182 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, with a total of 601 lives deliberately taken in cartel-run turf wars.
Fentanyl can be produced in small packages, making urban areas suitable for production. This has led to concerns from analysts like Falko Ernst, senior Mexico analyst at the International Crisis Group, who suggests that fentanyl has become an ignition point for continued violence in Colima.
Despite the violence, tourists continue to flock to the coast of Colima. The city's allure, combined with its dark underbelly, presents a complex picture of a city caught in the crossfire of drug trafficking and tourism.
