{"id":160240,"date":"2025-08-03T11:16:48","date_gmt":"2025-08-03T11:16:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/mexico-has-declared-war-on-a-smuggling-operation-impacting-the-chinese-market-the-cocaine-del-mar\/"},"modified":"2025-08-03T11:16:50","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T11:16:50","slug":"mexico-has-declared-war-on-a-smuggling-operation-impacting-the-chinese-market-the-cocaine-del-mar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/mexico-has-declared-war-on-a-smuggling-operation-impacting-the-chinese-market-the-cocaine-del-mar\/","title":{"rendered":"Mexico has declared war on a smuggling operation impacting the Chinese market: the “Cocaine del Mar.”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A little over a year ago, in June 2024<\/a>, a Mexican National Guard team was observing the Tlaquepaque bus station in Jalisco when an intriguing event unfolded. One of the specially trained dogs, intended to detect narcotics, began sniffing two cardboard boxes situated at a messaging company’s office. As the agents approached, they noted a peculiar scent, akin to “decomposition,” prompting them to open the packages. To their surprise, they discovered not drugs, firearms, or any illegal substances, but \u00a080 dehydrated fish bladders\u00a0.<\/p>\n

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These bladders belonged to a distinct species known as the Totoaba Macdonaldi<\/em><\/a>. Despite their seemingly unappealing appearance, the \u00a080 bladders\u00a0, collectively weighing approximately \u00a018 kilos\u00a0, could have fetched around \u00a0$360,000\u00a0 on the \u00a0Chinese black market\u00a0.<\/p>\n

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They are often referred to as the \u00a0“Cocaine of the sea.”\u00a0 But what exactly is a Totoaba?<\/p>\n

The Totoaba Macdonaldi<\/em> may not be a household name in many parts of the world, but it is well-known in its native habitat along the \u00a0coasts of Mexico\u00a0. This species is endemic to the \u00a0Upper Gulf of California\u00a0 and is notable for its impressive size, capable of reaching lengths up to \u00a0two meters\u00a0 and weights of \u00a0100 kg\u00a0, living up to \u00a030 years\u00a0. The Totoaba\u2019s swim bladder is particularly sought after in various markets.<\/p>\n

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\"Totoaba<\/p>\n

  <\/div><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n
\u00a0Why is it so sought after?\u00a0 In certain regions of China, the Totoaba swim bladder is dubbed a \u00a0delicacy\u00a0 due to its supposed \u00a0medicinal properties\u00a0, leading to exorbitant prices in the black market. Despite a lack of scientific research to verify these claims, it is commonly used in soups that are believed to alleviate joint pain or provide relief for pregnant women. Its popularity has become so immense that it’s even regarded as a luxury gift or dowry.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0How much does it cost?\u00a0 The price can vary, but it is often exorbitant. Reports suggest that a kilo of Totoaba bladder could surpass \u00a0$8,500\u00a0 in trading markets. Some estimates even report figures as high as \u00a0$20,000 per kilo\u00a0, or \u00a0\u20ac2,200 for just 100 grams\u00a0. There are even instances of bladders from preferred specimens fetching upwards of \u00a0\u20ac40,000\u00a0, although these prices fluctuate based on demand and availability.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0Is this a pressing issue?\u00a0 Yes, it certainly is. The intense demand for Totoaba has placed immense pressure on its populations, prompting the Mexican government to take definitive actions. Fishing for Totoaba was prohibited in the \u00a01970s\u00a0, and in \u00a01991\u00a0, the species was officially declared \u00a0endangered\u00a0. It also appears on the \u00a0Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)\u00a0 list, underscoring its vulnerable status.<\/p>\n
 <\/p>\n
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\n                   \"Totoaba
\n   \"Totoaba<\/p>\n
  <\/div><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n
\u00a0Current Situation\u00a0: According to a statement released by the Mexican government, the uncontrolled fishing of Totoaba during the \u00a020th century\u00a0 has drastically reduced its population, pushing it towards extinction. Although the illegal smuggling persists, there are some signs of hope. Various protective measures, including \u00a0repopulation efforts\u00a0, have been initiated, with \u00a040,000 young Totoaba\u00a0 released in Baja California Sur as part of ongoing efforts to enhance their dwindling numbers. This brings the total releases to approximately \u00a0270,000\u00a0 individuals in the region.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0Are additional measures being taken?\u00a0 Yes, indeed. To combat the illegal trade, Mexican authorities have conducted multiple operations, including the recent seizure of \u00a080 Totoaba bladders\u00a0 at the Jalisco Bus Station. Furthermore, border patrols have intercepted additional shipments, enhancing enforcement against this smuggling network.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0Political Action\u00a0: Beyond enforcement, the Totoaba has become a subject of heated political discourse in Mexico. Recent years have seen the government strengthen its legal framework to protect this endangered species. A commission has even approved a reform package aimed at regulating the export of legally farmed Totoaba meat while maintaining strict bans on the commercialization of their bladders.<\/p>\n
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Recently, Nikkei<\/a> reported that Mexico has partially lifted the ban on the export of Totoaba, but this pertains specifically to fish farm-derived meat, with strict regulations in place to oversee this merchandise and prevent smuggling.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0Cocaine of the Sea?\u00a0 This nickname may sound exaggerated, but it accurately reflects the lucrative market surrounding Totoaba bladders, leading to severe consequences for the environment. The combination of high financial returns and regulatory gaps has engaged drug trafficking organizations in this illicit trade.<\/p>\n
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In the words of Felbab-Brown, an expert in organized crime from the Brookings Institute, \u201cThe cartels recognized that these Chinese merchants earn substantial profits from jellyfish, Totoaba bladders, and similar marine species. This has resulted in a merging of economies that benefits these trafficking networks.\u201d Reports indicate that there is collaboration between Chinese organized crime factions and Mexican cartels, further complicating attempts to control this illegal trade.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0Additional Threats\u00a0: Another victim of the Totoaba smuggling crisis is the \u00a0vaquita marina\u00a0, a porpoise critically endangered due to the fishing nets deployed to catch Totoabas. Its population has dwindled to alarming numbers, leading environmental organizations to warn of its imminent extinction.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Images | Government of Mexico 1<\/a> and 2<\/a>.<\/p>\n
In conclusion, the issues surrounding the Totoaba not only highlight the dangers of illegal wildlife trafficking but also pose serious questions about biodiversity and ecological stewardship. As the Mexican government grapples with enforcement and protective measures, the global community must remain vigilant in the fight against illicit trade affecting endangered species. This ongoing battle offers vital lessons in the conservation of marine biodiversity for generations to come.<\/p>\n

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General News – 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A little over a year ago, in June 2024, a Mexican National Guard team was observing the Tlaquepaque bus station in Jalisco when an intriguing event unfolded. One of the specially trained dogs, intended to detect narcotics, began sniffing two cardboard boxes situated at a messaging company’s office. As the agents approached, they noted a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":160241,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36399],"tags":[2394,9946,2791,13135,26311,25655,1857,7396,671,3949,326],"class_list":["post-160240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-chinese","tag-cocaine","tag-declared","tag-del","tag-impacting","tag-mar","tag-market","tag-mexico","tag-operation","tag-smuggling","tag-war"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=160240"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160240\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/160241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=160240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=160240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=160240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}