Get Ready for the Return of Widespread Drug Production

By Charles Noonan, head of narcotics training at the SoRite Company

Law enforcement agencies in the U.S. should quickly reacquaint themselves with a critical issue they may not have seen in years: clandestine drug labs and their associated safety risks.

Just over a decade ago, agencies were kept busy with gangs and individual users manufacturing narcotics. However, cheap methamphetamine and fentanyl from Mexico and Canada have flooded and dominated the U.S. market. Domestic production subsided. That downturn is now set to reverse itself. Several factors have combined to disrupt the narcotics supply chain, which will most likely encourage drug-makers to set up shop in the U.S. once again.

The Mexican military’s February 2026 killing of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” is a high-visibility event with implications for the supply side of the illegal drug trade. Lower-level bosses are now vying to take El Mencho’s place to direct the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). That struggle could very well slow down the cartel’s drug production. Despite recent reports that El Mencho’s American born stepson has been selected as the CJNG’s new leader, U.S. government pressure and more aggressive enforcement will continue to curtail their operations.

In addition to CJNG’s instability, the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration has curtailed drug trafficking as a knock-on effect. The reduction in illegal border crossings to nearly zero means that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents can devote more time to drug enforcement on the northern and southern boarders.

Other actions impacting supply include the administration’s use of tariffs to pressure Canada to restrict the flow of drugs and the ongoing U.S. military campaign that aims to stop drug trafficking in the Caribbean.

These activities have prompted a recalculation of the supply-and-demand equation. The supply has been interrupted, intercepted and slowed, but the demand for narcotics hasn’t diminished. As a result, law enforcement agencies can expect threat actors to find ways to boost the supply side of the equation. Developments to look out for include changes to smuggling routes, new drop sites where precursors and chemicals for making drugs are sent, and new production locations in the United States.

The reemergence of decentralized drug production

The profit motive virtually ensures that drug suppliers will ramp up production despite the interdiction obstacles. The Mexican drug cartels have previously brought large drug production labs into the U.S. and there’s every reason to believe they will try to do so again. They may purchase real estate in remote areas as a money laundering ploy that also provides space to build a lab.

Local gangs and drug users, cut off from their usual sources, are also likely to set up and operate clandestine drug labs. The motivation is straightforward: As producers, they’ll have new money-making opportunities and enhanced profit potential since there’s no supplier to pay. In addition, some people just enjoy the rush of the drug trade.

Labs can be small and portable: users seeking to cook their own meth can acquire drug-making gear that fits in a backpack. This sets the stage for widely dispersed operations.

The expected resurgence in domestic drug production will also feature improvised chemical sourcing. Would-be producers with links to over-the-border drug networks can arrange to smuggle in the chemical precursors, equipment and expertise needed to make a drug. In the case of meth production, a local lab can opt to smuggle the drug in liquid form and convert it to crystalline form for street sales.

Domestic operators can also acquire precursors and chemicals from legitimate sources. Currently, drug producers visit a pharmacy and buy pseudoephedrine that is found in cold medicine and is a key meth precursor. They can purchase other required chemicals at a hardware store. Law enforcement agencies can expect to see an uptick in attempts to “smurf” cold medicine from several pharmacies or stores to circumvent the legal limits on single-store purchases.

Such activities, as they expand throughout the U.S., will create a surge in decentralized sourcing and production. Law enforcement agencies will face the challenge of a highly fragmented threat landscape. The spread of distributed drug-making won’t happen immediately. Agencies probably have a window of six months to a year for preparation. That will give them time to get officers up to speed on what to look for regarding labs, equipment and chemical sourcing activities, and how to conduct investigations.

As for the types of drugs to anticipate, fentanyl, meth and ecstasy should see a rise in domestic manufacturing. Clandestine labs may also focus on synthetic opioids such as isotonitazene. Cocaine production is less likely because of the very long supply chains involved in sourcing the coca base.

Training for a challenging environment

A lack of recent experience is a core challenge when encountering clandestine drug labs. Since fewer labs have been operating in the U.S., police and other first responders haven't had as many encounters with them, or much practice in recognizing the equipment used in those operations. Similarly, they might lack experience investigating the diversion of precursors from legitimate businesses.

That diversion threat affects a range of enterprises, in addition to pharmacies and hardware stores. Examples include companies in the livestock supply chain, which maintain higher quantities of precursor chemicals since they deal with larger animals. Vendors of laboratory glassware and heating mantles are also at risk. A range of organizations will need to be contacted and put on alert for buyers intending to equip a lab.

The changing environment calls for education and training. For law enforcement agencies, this typically begins with awareness training. Training programs show officers different types of drug laboratories, review the types of chemicals they might see, and make them aware of indicators, such as large quantities of discarded blister packs, they might find in the field.

Awareness training helps officers learn to recognize and avoid dangerous lab environments. Other training programs prepare officers to enter and deconstruct a clandestine labs. A basic hazardous materials certification is the entry-level tier for those charged with dismantling and collecting evidence from these operations. A higher tier certifies site safety officers and supervisors. Further training is needed to take down the most toxic clandestine labs, which require the highest level of protective clothing and equipment.

The health risks of processing labs

Clandestine labs pose several risks to the health and safety of law enforcement personnel. Chemicals used in drug labs include components that can cause fires and explosions. The acids and bases found in labs are corrosive and cause burns. Officers can come in contact with chemicals during an investigation and in some instances, threat actors can use these chemicals as a weapon.

But the biggest danger is respiratory exposure. The easiest way for drugs to do harm is through inhalation, because toxins reaching the lungs can readily pass into a person's bloodstream. Officers exposed to fentanyl during a tactical operation could be overwhelmed and require treatment. In some cases, officers might, out of curiously, smell what's inside of a suspicious looking container. Unfortunately, that simple, evidence-seeking act can result in serious injury or death.

For this reason, personal protective equipment (PPE) remains critical for law enforcement personnel dealing with an illicit lab. The necessary equipment includes an air purifying respirator mask or a self-contained breathing apparatus. Officers without the proper gear, or who fail to recognize a hazardous environment, can walk right into a deadly situation.

After the respiratory system, the parts of the body most susceptible to contamination are the hands and feet/footwear. That said, the level of exposure depends on the circumstances. If officers attempt to arrest a threat actor who is uncooperative, they might end up rolling around on the lab floor. If that occurs, contaminants can cover uniforms and equipment.

In addition, many drug-making chemicals can injure a person's skin on contact. A person might absently rub their eyes or facial area after contamination. The danger here is that the mucous membranes of the eyes and mouth absorb drugs more quickly than skin.

Such health risks can extend beyond the immediate environment. Drugs or chemicals that remain on clothing can enter an officer's home. Hugging a spouse or child can transfer chemicals, person to person. Small children can breathe in contaminants from clothing left on the floor for laundering.

Decontamination methods

The hazards of lab investigation, and the potentially dangerous aftermath, underscores the need for a thorough decontamination of officers, clothing and equipment.

Officers who emerge from a clandestine lab, especially those who lack training, should wait outside until a hazmat-certified professional becomes available. Officers can then discuss what they were exposed to and the certified person, such as a site safety officer, can help them through the decontamination steps. Many times, this will involve removing uniforms and equipment, and putting on a PPE suit or a different set of clothing afterwards.

The decontamination process might require washing one's entire body and equipment. In severe cases of contamination, a uniform might need to be discarded.

Another health and safety measure: Law enforcement agencies can use chemical decontamination agents that neutralize narcotics. Different options are available and it's important to understand how decontaminates operate. Some solutions, for instance, don't irritate skin or otherwise harm people. Others, while effective in certain circumstances, are unsafe for people and equipment. Agencies should consider using different types of decontamination agents to address different scenarios.

The decontamination process helps at the lab site, but has broader implications. For example, an injured officer or firefighter might not realize they are contaminated. When they are transported by ambulance to an emergency room, the vehicle and the hospital could be affected. The chain of contamination can expand without effective safety measures. Decontamination risk management is therefore essential and cannot be overlooked.

Be prepared

Law enforcement agencies should plan for the potential return of widespread drug manufacturing in the U.S. Interruptions to the supply chain could alter smuggling routes, involve a different set of players and change production locations. Agencies have to be open to the new threat landscape and ready to respond.

To make that happen, agencies must ensure officers receive awareness training and the appropriate certifications to deal with drug laboratories. They also need to stay in contact with businesses such as pharmacies and laboratory equipment suppliers, keeping them on the lookout for suspicious sales.

It is important to recognize the strong possibility that a resurgence in drug labs is likely to happen in the coming months. Law enforcement must be prepared.

About the Author

Charles Noonan is the head of narcotics training at the SoRite Company. He is a former DEA operational and hazardous site supervisor, with 26 years of experience, responsible for tactical assaults on clandestine laboratories as well as their complex dismantling and decontamination. Charles has significant undercover experience investigating narcotic smuggling networks in Mexico, USA, Europe, and South America. Contact him at [email protected].