PAN’s Ties to Genaro García/Fentanyl Crisis

PAN’s ties to Genaro García. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador asked Marko Cortés, PAN´s national leader, to clarify the party's links with Genaro García, former Minister of Public Security during Felipe Calderón’s government.

Cortés explained that in 2015 PAN signed a contract for MX$1 million (US$52,808.52) with a company linked to García. However, Cortés emphasized that the PAN did not know anything about it. The agreement is registered with the National Electoral Institute (INE) as indicated by law to ensure transparency.

García is being processed in Florida for five crimes, four of them related to drug trafficking. The alleged crimes entail participation in corporate crime, conspiracy for global distribution of cocaine, conspiracy for the distribution and possession of cocaine and conspiracy for cocaine import. The fifth alleged crime is for giving false testimony to US authorities. He is the highest-ranking Mexican former official to face justice in the US for charges linked to drug trafficking and corruption. His trial started three years ago after he was arrested in Texas. 

US-Mexico Campaign Against Fentanyl. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stressed that his government has made greater progress in combating fentanyl trafficking than the US. He said that during his administration, seven tons of fentanyl have been seized. 

Republican representatives Dan Crenshaw of Texas and Michael Waltz of Florida proposed to solve the US’ fentanyl crisis by having US President Joe Biden authorize military action against Mexican cartels. The proposal was presented in January 2023 and passed nearly unnoticed yet regained attention due to a recent increase in fentanyl trafficking. President López Obrador criticized this proposal saying it meddles in internal affairs. 

On March 9, 2023, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard met with US Homeland Security Advisor, Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, to discuss possible fentanyl combating strategies for both countries. The two governments agreed to launch a binational campaign to combat fentanyl trafficking and consumption. The Mexican government assured that efforts will be divided within their jurisdictions and consider this the  greatest effort ever made between Mexico and the US to combat a drug.

Fentanyl in medicine. López Obrador called on doctors and scientists to investigate how to replace fentanyl with other painkillers to stop using it completely. 

The fentanyl crisis represents one of the most critical healthcare issues for Mexico and the US and has been a key discussion topic. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid considered 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. In 2022, fentanyl deaths accounted for 66 percent of drug-related deaths in the US. While the price of fentanyl is at its lowest point, its consumption is increasing in Mexico and the US, according to authorities.