MEXICO CITY, February 24, 2025 – A sweeping foreign aid freeze ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump has stalled a United Nations program in Mexico aimed at stopping the flow of imported fentanyl precursors into the country’s drug cartels, according to several sources familiar with the matter.
he initiative, part of the UN Container Control Programme - a joint effort by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Customs Organization - provided Mexico’s Navy with specialized training and equipment to enhance cargo screening at the Port of Manzanillo, the nation’s busiest container port. The program, launched in 2023 with approximately $800,000 in U.S. funding, was also scheduled to expand to two additional ports, Lázaro Cárdenas and Veracruz, this month. However, the funding cut has forced authorities to put these plans on hold.
The Port of Manzanillo has long been a hotspot for drug traffickers, who smuggle Chinese chemical precursors through the port to supply clandestine labs producing synthetic opioids and methamphetamine. Despite the UN program’s reported success - in one instance, training efforts led to the seizure of nearly 90 tons of meth ingredients in July 2024 and another 25 tons in December - further donations of cargo scanners, drug-testing equipment, and additional training are now suspended.
The freeze is one of several U.S. counternarcotics efforts in Mexico that have been disrupted by Trump’s abrupt halt on foreign aid, which was ordered on January 20. Other affected programs include U.S. training initiatives aimed at dismantling clandestine fentanyl labs and the provision of drug-sniffing canines to Mexican authorities.
While the Trump administration has issued waivers to resume funding for certain security programs worldwide - including $7.8 million in projects by the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) in Mexico - most of INL’s roughly $50 million budget dedicated to disrupting the fentanyl supply chain remains frozen. The UN Container Control Programme, however, has not yet received a waiver.
Enrique Roig, a former senior State Department official, warned that halting these programs could undermine U.S. efforts to reduce fentanyl overdose deaths. “Stopping all these programs at this moment, I just don't see how this is going to have a positive impact on reducing the numbers of fentanyl deaths in the U.S.,” he said.
The funding freeze comes amid an ongoing crisis fueled by the illicit trade of fentanyl - a synthetic opioid linked to more than 450,000 American deaths over the past decade. The crisis is driven largely by a shadowy supply chain for precursor chemicals, smuggled into North America by air and sea, then synthesized into finished fentanyl in Mexico.
In addition to its operations at seaports, the UN has been in talks with Mexican authorities to launch a similar cargo screening program at airports under the AIRCOP initiative at Mexico City’s Benito Juárez airport. However, this expansion is also at risk due to the current funding freeze.
The disruption of these anti-narcotics programs marks a significant setback in U.S. efforts to combat the opioid crisis. Trump’s administration has repeatedly emphasized the need to secure the U.S. border and cut federal spending, but critics argue that curtailing support for key security initiatives may ultimately exacerbate the challenges posed by illegal drug trafficking.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly did not comment on the decision to halt funding, while Mexican officials have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the status of the UN programme. Meanwhile, the broader implications of the aid freeze continue to stoke debate over the effectiveness of U.S. policies aimed at curbing transnational drug trafficking.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his upcoming reciprocal tariffs will apply to all nations, rather than just targeting the 10 to 15 countries with the largest trade imbalances. Trump plans to unveil the tariff package on Wednesday, calling it “Liberation Day.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attempting to back out of a critical minerals deal, warning that such a move would bring serious repercussions.
U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May for his first foreign trip since beginning his second term, Axios reported on Sunday.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone call on Sunday evening to discuss “productive negotiations” aimed at establishing a UK-U.S. economic prosperity deal, according to a Downing Street spokesperson.
Republican President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was not joking about the possibility of seeking a third presidential term, despite the U.S. Constitution’s clear prohibition against it.
Armenia has confirmed it will not approve or contribute to the CSTO’s 2024 budget, effectively withdrawing from funding the bloc’s operations. This decision follows ongoing tensions, with PM Pashinyan previously labeling the alliance a “security threat” to Armenia.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his upcoming reciprocal tariffs will apply to all nations, rather than just targeting the 10 to 15 countries with the largest trade imbalances. Trump plans to unveil the tariff package on Wednesday, calling it “Liberation Day.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attempting to back out of a critical minerals deal, warning that such a move would bring serious repercussions.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots, monitoring a Chinese navy warship as it navigated Australian waters, were alerted to a live-fire exercise via a civilian radio broadcast, defense officials revealed on Tuesday.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region, followed by a 6.4-magnitude tremor, killing more than 1,700 people and leaving 3,400 injured. The quake caused building collapses in Myanmar and Thailand, prompting emergency declarations and ongoing rescue efforts.
As the world shifts toward clean energy at an ever-accelerating pace, large economies are scrambling to secure reliable supply chains for rare earth minerals. These minerals, once seen as mere industrial components, have become a political tool in the global power struggle
Russian forces carried out a drone attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, late Wednesday, injuring at least twenty one people and causing structural damage, according to Ukrainian officials.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board has completed the Seventh Review of the Extended Arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Ukraine, enabling a disbursement of about $0.4 billion, which will be allocated for budget support.
Elon Musk’s xAI has acquired his social media platform X in a $33 billion all-stock deal.
Popular coffee brands are negotiating price hikes with retailers due to a sharp rise in arabica costs, with some supermarket shelves running out of stock. Prices may increase by up to 25% as companies grapple with supply chain pressures.
Zhang Yiming, the founder of Bytedance and owner of TikTok, has become China’s richest person, according to multiple wealth rankings. Bloomberg Billionaires Index places him as the world’s 24th wealthiest individual, with his fortune estimated between $57.5 billion and $65.5 billion.
Canada has suspended Tesla rebate payments and barred the automaker from future EV incentives due to U.S. tariffs. Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland said the freeze will remain until claims are individually reviewed.
Armenia has confirmed it will not approve or contribute to the CSTO’s 2024 budget, effectively withdrawing from funding the bloc’s operations. This decision follows ongoing tensions, with PM Pashinyan previously labeling the alliance a “security threat” to Armenia.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his upcoming reciprocal tariffs will apply to all nations, rather than just targeting the 10 to 15 countries with the largest trade imbalances. Trump plans to unveil the tariff package on Wednesday, calling it “Liberation Day.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attempting to back out of a critical minerals deal, warning that such a move would bring serious repercussions.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment