The U.S. government has reported the possible presence of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) in Kenya, where the cartel is believed to be operating synthetic drug production laboratories.
This revelation comes from the latest report by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, which details the dismantling of a methamphetamine lab in Namanga, Kenya. The report suggests that the facility has ties to the CJNG, marking the first confirmation of the cartel’s presence in the country.
U.S. authorities stated that the laboratory was seized in 2024, calling it a “significant achievement” in the fight against drug trafficking. The report also mentions the arrest of a suspected CJNG member who was attempting to leave Kenya for Mexico. The arrest was made possible through intelligence gathered by U.S. agencies.
In response to the report, the Mexican Embassy in Kenya issued a statement, noting that it “cannot comment on an ongoing trial,” in reference to the alleged involvement of a Mexican citizen in criminal activities in the African country.