Methamphetamine's Shadow Economy: What a Record Seizure Reveals About Cartel Power The recent seizure of nearly 17 tonnes of methamphetamine in Mexico has been hailed as one of the largest drug busts in history, with estimated economic losses to cartels reaching $347 million.
This operation appears to be a major blow to organized crime on the surface, but closer examination reveals a more complex web of power and influence.
The Scale of Methamphetamine Production Mexico's clandestine laboratories produced an estimated 17 tonnes of methamphetamine, enough to supply a significant portion of the global market.