Financial TimesFinancial Times

How fentanyl changed the game for Mexico’s drug cartels

By Christine Murray

25 Jul 2023 · 5 min read

One Sunday morning in May, after leaving a restaurant in western Mexico, Sergio Emmanuel Martínez was kidnapped. Two weeks earlier, he had started work as a senior director of customs in Manzanillo, the country’s largest port.

The next day, he was found dead beside a motorway, making him the fourth customs official at the port to be murdered in less than two years.

Sign in to informed

  • Curated articles from premium publishers, ad-free
  • Concise Daily Briefs with quick-read summaries
  • Read, listen, save for later, or enjoy offline
  • Enjoy personalized content
Or

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.