Disguised as a janitor, the cartel recruiter infiltrated the university campus with a clear goal: to target a second-year chemistry student.

The recruiter introduced himself and revealed the cartel’s intention to hire talent for a new project, emphasizing that he had heard promising things about the young man.

“You’re skilled at what you do,” the student recalled the recruiter saying. “The choice is yours whether to get involved.”

In their bid to expand their fentanyl operations, Mexican cartels are seeking an unconventional talent pool—not assassins or corrupt officials, but chemistry students from Mexican universities.

Those working in cartel labs, commonly referred to as “cooks,” shared with The New York Times that they require individuals with advanced chemistry knowledge to enhance the drug’s potency and addictive potential.

Moreover, the cartels have an even bolder ambition: synthesizing the chemical precursors needed for fentanyl production, eliminating their reliance on imports from China. If they succeed, U.S. authorities warn, it could mark a frightening new chapter in the fentanyl crisis, granting cartels unprecedented control over one of the deadliest drugs in history.

“It would make us the kings of Mexico,” said a chemistry student who had been involved in fentanyl production for six months.

The Times interviewed several insiders, including seven fentanyl cooks, three chemistry students, high-ranking operatives, and a top recruiter—all affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel, which the U.S. government identifies as a major player in smuggling fentanyl across the southern border. These sources spoke anonymously, fearing retribution, and their accounts aligned with those of American Embassy officials tracking the cartel’s activities. A university chemistry professor confirmed that the recruitment of students had become commonplace.

According to the students, their roles within the cartel vary. They conduct experiments to improve the drug’s formula, create precursors, and oversee the large-scale production of fentanyl alongside other workers.

While the extent of this recruitment effort remains unclear, the pandemic appears to have accelerated the trend. A 2020 Mexican intelligence report, leaked by hackers, revealed that the Sinaloa Cartel had sought chemistry professors to develop fentanyl precursors after pandemic-related disruptions hindered supply chains.

U.S. law enforcement has similarly observed a surge in young chemists being apprehended at fentanyl labs in Mexico. These chemists admitted they were tasked with enhancing precursors and boosting the drug’s potency.

A chemistry professor from Sinaloa State shared his alarming observations: some students attend his classes specifically to learn techniques applicable to synthesizing illicit drugs. “When I teach pharmaceutical synthesis, they sometimes ask outright, ‘When will we learn to make cocaine or other substances?’” he said.

In response to the growing crisis, international tensions have risen. The Biden administration has tread carefully to maintain cooperation with Mexico, while former President Donald J. Trump has pledged a more aggressive stance, threatening military action and tariffs unless Mexico halts the flow of drugs and migrants. Mexico’s incoming president, Claudia Sheinbaum, called for “international collaboration” to stem the influx of precursors from Asia.

However, U.S. officials caution that as cartels gain control over the entire fentanyl supply chain, efforts to curb production will face greater challenges. Todd Robinson, a U.S. State Department official, noted that the cartels are working to internalize precursor production, accelerating the drug’s availability in the U.S.

Mass-producing fentanyl is relatively simple if precursors are readily available, requiring only basic steps and widely accessible instructions. However, synthesizing precursors is far more complex, demanding advanced chemical expertise, according to James DeFrancesco, a forensic science professor and former DEA chemist.

The risks involved in this work are significant, from toxic exposure to explosions and violent repercussions for errors. Nonetheless, the financial incentives often outweigh these dangers. One student recounted being offered $800 upfront and a monthly salary of $800—double the average income for chemists in Mexico.

This student, who had dreamed of curing cancer to help his father, hesitated at first. The moral conflict of creating a drug that causes mass death weighed heavily on him. Yet, the desperate need for his father’s treatment pushed him to accept the offer. Within days, he was blindfolded and taken to a secret lab in the mountains.

The Recruitment Process

Before approaching a potential recruit, the cartel meticulously evaluates candidates. According to one recruiter, ideal recruits possess both theoretical knowledge and practical resilience, as well as the discretion to operate within the cartel’s illicit activities.

The recruiter described his search process, which includes gathering information from friends, families, and acquaintances, even offering tuition coverage for particularly promising students. “We’re like any company—we invest in talent,” he said.

Initially, the cartel relied on untrained cooks using straightforward methods. But with tighter restrictions on precursor imports from China and pandemic-related supply chain issues, the need for skilled chemists grew.

Despite their efforts, the cartel has yet to successfully produce precursors. “We’re close, but it’s not easy,” said a former student now involved in the project.