13,000 kg of avocado oil contaminated with methamphetamine. 787 kg of methamphetamine itself. 25,080 kg of chemical precursors used in the production of fentanyl or other synthetic drugs.
These are just some examples of the illicit shipments intercepted in 2024 by the Mexican Navy and Customs authorities at the country's largest hub for foreign cargo shipping - the Port of Manzanillo. The seizures followed the creation of a Port Control Unit with the support of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
The strategic location of the port along the Pacific has long made it a target for organized criminal groups trafficking drugs and other illicit goods that endanger the health and safety of people around the globe.
But with the support of the U.S. government, UNODC and WCO assisted Mexico's Navy and Customs authorities to detect and seize these illicit shipments through the creation and training of a specialized inter-agency unit.
These units conduct risk assessments to target and intercept high-risk passengers, cargo and mail. They facilitate communication and coordination between origin, transit and destination countries and the private sector, helping to undercut these organized crime networks and keep communities safe.
Organized crime groups are adaptable, constantly seeking new routes to exploit, which is why UNODC-WCO and the Government of Mexico are creating a new Port Control Unit in the Port of Veracruz.
Every year, the Port of Veracruz handles over 34 million tons of cargo from 54 maritime routes worldwide, and operates an average of 1,800 ships, making it one of Mexico's most important maritime gateways - and another attractive target for organized crime groups.
To equip the new Port Control Unit to handle these threats, 94 Navy and Customs authorities have already received training on topics like container profiling and inspection, concealment methods, risk analysis, handling hazardous materials and the use of Artificial Intelligence in the interpretation and analysis of scanned images.
One trained authority noted: "I learned analysis techniques and received feedback from instructors regarding seizures detected at other customs offices in Latin America. I also learned how to improve my analysis of information and how to use the digital tools they provided us with to rule out or confirm a review of certain goods."
"These are direct blows to organized crime," added another official. "The seizures of illicit goods will prevent them from disturbing social peace."
Stronger port security doesn't just mean safer, healthier and more secure societies. It also means a stronger economy by protecting and facilitating legal trade worldwide.
As noted by one Port Veracruz authority, the new Port Control Unit will help create "a safer and more reliable port so that investors from other countries feel secure when conducting their operations here and at all ports in Mexico."
This work is generously supported by the United States of America.
Learn more about UNODC's Passenger and Cargo Control Programme (PCCP) here.
Source: UNODC
