US-Mexico conference on fight against synthetic drugs begins in Mexican capital

Delegates attended the opening ceremony of a conference of US and Mexican forensic chemists and prosecutors to strengthen efforts in the fight against synthetic drugs.

The conference in Mexico City, organized by the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), comes amid diplomatic tensions between US president-elect Donald Trump and Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum over the flow of fentanyl into the United States.

Trump has threatened to slap a 25 percent tariff on Mexico and Canada imports until both countries help to stop the flow of drugs and illegal immigration into the United States.

Ahead of the conference, the Mexican government announced the seizure of a record one-ton shipment of fentanyl in the northeastern state of Sinaloa.