Two seizures last week resulted in the largest meth-related interdiction in Mexican history. Seventeen tons of 2-phenylacetaminde were seized entering Mexico from the customs point at Nuevo Laredo. Twenty tons of sodium phenylacetate were uncovered at the Pacific Ocean port of Manzanillo. Both ingredients are integral to the manufacture of methamphetamine and could have been used to make as much as 25 tons of crystal meth.

It is likely that the chemicals intercepted at Manzanillo, Mexico’s busiest port, were bound for a laboratory operated by La Familia, headquartered in the neighboring state of Michoacán. La Familia is an infamous drug cartel known for its control of the crystal meth market. President Calderón has moved aggressively to dismantle La Familia this year; so far, more than 100 of its leaders have been arrested, and more than 40 meth labs have been closed. The outfit’s political cover has also been under attack. In a well-publicized round up of venal officials in May, ten mayors in Michoacán were arrested for suspected ties to La Familia. An arrest warrant was recently issued for Julio César Godoy, the governor’s brother, for suspected ties to the cartel.

La Familia isn’t folding. As opposed to many of the other major cartels in Mexico, La Familia operates a public relations campaign that endears community support—it is known to fund the paving of roads, is widely believed to be a major contributor to the Catholic Church, and even circulates literature that mixes pop-culture with Biblical teachings. Defeating the cartel might be the tallest order of the government’s drug war.

Linkages are being drawn to Mexico’s drug decriminalization announced last month. No doubt some believe this is proof-positive that the government is more freed up to focus on the big fish, the cartels. I doubt there is much in the way of causality in this latest bit of news. Large seizures at ports and customs points indicate better inspection. Large seizures at makeshift factories would indicate better intelligence. The latter are needed to affect aggregate supply in Mexico. A litany of large raids in the coming weeks and months would assuage my skepticism. Eviscerating La Familia would prove the government is making irreversible strides in the right direction.