Mexican cartels, particularly the Sinaloa Cartel, have recently begun targeting university chemistry students to aid in the production of fentanyl and its precursors. This shift is part of a broader strategy to strengthen their operations and increase self-sufficiency in producing the drug. Cartels need skilled chemists to help refine fentanyl’s potency and eventually synthesize the chemicals needed for its production, a step that would eliminate their reliance on foreign suppliers, especially those in China.

The recruitment process is both subtle and strategic. Cartel recruiters often approach students disguised as janitors or distant relatives, offering lucrative salaries in exchange for their involvement in illicit activities. One such student, a chemistry sophomore, was offered $800 upfront and a monthly salary double what he could earn in legitimate work (New York Times). For many students, especially those from impoverished backgrounds, the temptation is irresistible. Matthew Luviano(11) says, “Honestly, when you’re just trying to figure out what you’re going to after graduation, the idea of making money fast can be tempting. But when you read about what these cartels are doing, it makes you think about the kind of life you want to lead. It’s definitely not worth it.” These students are often raised in poor regions and see the cartel’s offer as a way to improve their lives and support their families. One student, who initially pursued chemistry to find a cure for cancer, took the offer to help pay for his father’s medical treatment, despite the ethical dilemma it posed (New York Times).

Once recruited, students are whisked away to clandestine laboratories hidden in remote locations. These labs, often in the mountains or under camouflage, are designed to avoid detection from authorities. Here, students are assigned to either develop stronger fentanyl or to help synthesize the precursors that are essential for its production. While the process of mixing fentanyl with imported precursors can be relatively straightforward, synthesizing the chemicals from scratch is far more complicated and requires advanced chemical expertise. This is where the students’ academic training becomes invaluable. However, the work is highly dangerous. The chemicals used are toxic, and mistakes can lead to deadly explosions or poisoning. Cooks and students alike wear hazmat suits and gas masks to protect themselves, but the risks remain high. As one student explained, if they fail to meet the cartel’s demands, the consequences could be fatal. “If they don’t like what you produce, they can make you disappear,” he said(New York Times).

The cartel’s recruiters also target students who have shown a particular interest in synthetic chemistry, often cultivating relationships with families and friends to gauge a student’s potential. One recruiter noted that many students are drawn in by the promise of quick money, but they are also closely monitored to ensure they can be trusted to keep quiet about the operation(New York Times). While the students are often lured by financial incentives, their involvement is deeply conflicted. They know that the work they are doing directly contributes to the ongoing opioid crisis, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives in the U.S.

In addition to making fentanyl more potent, some students are tasked with creating new and stronger precursors, a challenge that many have yet to master. These students are sometimes the lab’s “research and development” teams, tasked with conducting experiments to find ways to improve the drug’s quality. Though the work is often frustrating—one student mentioned how he had yet to succeed in synthesizing the precursors—cartels see these students as vital assets in their efforts to control the fentanyl market (New York Times).

The rising recruitment of university students marks a new phase in the fentanyl epidemic. Cartels are evolving into sophisticated, self-sustaining drug-producing organizations, which could make it more difficult for law enforcement to control the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. Griffin Shaver(11) shares, “We hear a lot about the fentanyl crisis on the news, but it’s hard to really grasp how serious it is until you hear about young people getting recruited into it. It makes you realize that even people our age can get caught up in something dangerous if they’re not careful.” As cartels gain greater access to both knowledge and resources, they become more capable of producing the drug at scale, further intensifying the crisis. For the students involved, the lure of money and the pressure of family obligations can override the moral consequences, making them complicit in one of the deadliest drug epidemics in history.