WASHINGTON — Synthetic drugs remain the top threat to U.S. public health and safety, the Drug Enforcement Administration said in its latest National Drug Threat Assessment, citing evolving criminal strategies, shifting purity levels, and a deepening convergence between narcotics and other illicit economies.
The 2025 report outlines significant developments in synthetic drug trends across the Americas, with fentanyl and methamphetamine continuing to dominate the DEA’s enforcement priorities.
While drug overdose deaths in the United States are on the decline, the agency attributes the drop primarily to a decrease in fentanyl purity—rather than to a reduction in availability.
According to the DEA, Mexican producers are facing increased difficulty sourcing precursor chemicals to manufacture high-potency fentanyl.
However, as investigative outlet InSight Crime has reported, it is also possible that traffickers are deliberately lowering fentanyl potency to reduce the risk of fatal overdoses, thereby retaining customers over time.
Seizure data supports the notion of a production slowdown. U.S. authorities seized nearly 30% less fentanyl and substantially fewer counterfeit fentanyl pills in 2024 compared to the previous year.
However, a concerning trend is the rise in fentanyl samples adulterated with xylazine, a powerful veterinary sedative that complicates overdose treatment.
The DEA notes that while xylazine is rarely found in pill form, it is increasingly mixed into powdered fentanyl—an indication of evolving strategies among traffickers.
Methamphetamine trends, by contrast, tell a different story. Purity remains exceptionally high, nearing 97% in 2025—a consistency maintained since 2016.
Although the overall volume of meth seized has declined, authorities report a rise in meth pills, a format often used to attract recreational users and casual consumers, particularly in party settings.
This mirrors earlier efforts seen in the marketing of rainbow-colored fentanyl tablets to younger audiences.
The agency also raised concerns over the synthetic drug known as “tusi,” a pink powder popular in Latin America’s club scenes.
While the DEA pointed to possible Sinaloa Cartel involvement in trafficking tusi into the U.S., the report acknowledges the drug’s largely decentralized and unsophisticated production.
Previous investigations suggest tusi distribution remains local primarily, with limited evidence of cartel-level control.
Cocaine trafficking continues to warrant close attention. Colombia remains the dominant supplier to the U.S., but its share of seized cocaine dropped from 88% to 84% in the past year.
The shift may indicate increased production in countries like Peru or Bolivia or the emergence of new cultivation zones in Central America, including Honduras, Guatemala, and parts of Mexico.
The DEA report does not explicitly confirm new regional production surges but notes growing complexity in trafficking routes.
In addition to narcotics, the DEA identified a rising threat from organized fuel theft. Known as Huachicol in Mexico, stolen crude oil is being smuggled into the United States disguised as hazardous waste, then funneled through shell companies and laundered into legitimate markets.
The profits, often reinvested in criminal operations, reportedly benefit powerful drug trafficking syndicates such as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the Sinaloa Cartel, and La Familia Michoacana.
The involvement of major cartels in fuel smuggling marks a concerning evolution in how transnational criminal organizations diversify their revenue streams.
Recent U.S. Treasury Department sanctions targeting individuals linked to the scheme suggest an increasingly sophisticated nexus between drug trafficking, industrial theft, and financial crime.
As synthetic drugs continue to shape regional criminal economies, the DEA’s findings underscore the complex and adaptive nature of Latin America’s illicit trade—and the challenges facing law enforcement on both sides of the border.
