New Fentanyl Formulas Tested on Humans and Animals by Mexican Cartels

New Mexico – Mexican cartels, particularly the Sinaloa cartel, are reportedly using desperate measures to maintain control over the fentanyl drug trade amid a shortage of drug-making ingredients from China.

According to recent reports, impoverished individuals in Culiacán, as well as animals like rabbits and chickens, are being exploited as test subjects for experimental fentanyl formulas. Gang members allegedly offer vulnerable people as little as $30 to participate in these dangerous trials, often leading to severe health complications or death.

In makeshift laboratories, cartels are mixing fentanyl with experimental additives, including animal tranquilizers like xylazine, to create more potent products. Animals are injected with the drug to measure its strength, with arbitrary benchmarks determining potency—for instance, if a rabbit or chicken survives longer than 90 seconds, the batch is deemed too weak, according to the New York Times.

Experts warn that such unregulated experimentation is likely to worsen the synthetic opioid crisis, increasing addiction rates and fatalities. This year alone, synthetic opioids like fentanyl are projected to claim the lives of 50,000 to 60,000 Americans.

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Calls for Action Against Cartels

The situation has reignited debates over U.S. intervention in Mexico to combat drug cartels. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has advocated for classifying Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations, calling for stronger measures against their operations.

In response, Mexican officials, including presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum, have dismissed the need for American involvement. Sheinbaum previously countered Trump’s proposals to send troops to Mexico by stating, “No need to get caught up.”

As the crisis escalates, the human toll and ethical concerns surrounding cartel practices continue to draw global attention.