Mayan Train / Fentanyl Crisis

Mayan Train. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stated that sections 6 and 7 of the Mayan Train will be finished in September. "This includes the inauguration of the entire circuit, encompassing all the stations and the social development program and conservation of associated archaeological sites." 

So far, the Mayan Train has transported 43,065 passengers. Based on ticket sales, the most popular routes include: San Francisco Campeche to Cancun Airport, San Francisco Campeche to Merida-Teya, Merida-Teya to Cancun Airport, Cancun Airport to Valladolid, and Merida-Teya to Valladolid. Despite its popularity, the project has generated several labor, environmental, and safety concerns, prompting a Yucatan tribunal judge to suspend construction activities on Section 5 South.

Fentanyl Crisis. López Obrador called on US authorities to address the causes of fentanyl and not to blame Mexico. "The main issue in the United States is drug addiction. It is not an easy problem to solve; the root causes need to be addressed."

Fentanyl represents one of the most critical healthcare issues for Mexico and the US, becoming a key discussion topic for both countries. According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), fentanyl is a synthetic opioid considered to be 30 to 50 times stronger than heroin and 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. In 2021, there were approximately 70,000 deaths in the US related to fentanyl and in 2022, fentanyl deaths accounted for 66% percent of drug-related deaths in that country. With the price of fentanyl being at its lowest, consumption is increasing in Mexico and the US, according to authorities.

Chocolate Cars. Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez revealed that a total of 2,406,837 million vehicles have been regularized under the program.

Although the initiative was initially intended to be valid for only one year, expiring on Dec. 31, 2022, the President decided to extend the life of the strategy until the end of his administration. The extension will continue in 16 states, where these types of vehicles transit the most, including Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa and Zacatecas.