Sinaloa Cartel invades France: clandestine laboratory found in luxury villa

A clandestine methamphetamine laboratory linked to the Sinaloa Cartel was dismantled in a luxury villa in Le Val, a small town in the Var department in southern France, according to an article in the British outlet The Times.

The operation was led by the National Gendarmerie with support from Europol, following several months of discreet investigations that began in June 2024. According to local media, this is the first time the presence of cartel cooks on French territory has been documented.

French authorities and Europol confirmed that the laboratory operated under the technical direction of the Sinaloa Cartel. Five specialized chemists were sent from Mexico to set up the facilities , train local personnel, and oversee production.

According to the Marseille Prosecutor's Office, the laboratory was equipped for the large-scale production of synthetic drugs. During the spring of 2024 alone, 400 kilos of methamphetamine were allegedly produced, with a resale value exceeding €11 million.

The substance was distributed not only in France , but also in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, and, allegedly, New Zealand . The link to the cartel was identified after the arrest of an individual linked to a Mexican drug trafficker. In addition, money laundering schemes were detected associated with the operation.

In total, 16 people were arrested, eight of whom were charged with importing, producing, and trafficking drugs internationally, as well as money laundering.

There are other cases that demonstrate the cartel's growing presence in Europe and its large-scale production and distribution capabilities. In 2024, Spanish authorities dismantled two Sinaloa Cartel cells: one in Valencia, with 1.8 tons of methamphetamine seized, and another in Toledo, with two Mexican laboratories and chemicals.