President-elect Donald Trump campaigned las tyear on a pledge to fight the influx of fentanyl and other illegal drugs coming across America's southern border.

Although Mexico's president initially struck a defiant tone, she recently backed down by conceding that the problem is real. 

President Claudia Sheinbaum admits that fentanyl is made in Mexico

According to CBS News, that acknowledgment was made during a press conference held on Tuesday by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

She explained that while the precursor materials used in the production of fentanyl typically originate in Asia, manufacture of the drug itself is carried out within her nation's borders.

Nor is fentanyl the only substance of concern, as Sheinbaum added, "The laboratories that have been dismantled in our country are mainly for methamphetamine or crystal (meth)."

However, Sheinbaum touted efforts that are being made by Mexican authorities to combat drug trafficking. CBS News noted how Mexico announced its largest ever fentanyl bust in December.

Mexican military personnel discover over a ton of fentanyl in Sinaloa home

Members of the Mexican military reportedly gave chase after confronting two armed individuals in the northern state of Sinaloa early last month.

Mexico announced the largest fentanyl seizure in its history. The timing may not be a coincidence.
https://t.co/58N1JDtnpJ

— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 5, 2024

The suspects ran into a home where more than 660 pounds of fentanyl pills were discovered. Another 1,750 pounds of the deadly narcotic were uncovered in a nearby truck.

"In Sinaloa, we achieved the biggest seizure in history of fentanyl," Public Safety Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch was quoted as saying in a social media post following the seizure.

Bust came shortly after Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Mexican products

That news came not long after President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on all Mexican products if Sheinbaum's administration does not do more to curb the cross-border flow of drugs and illegal migrants.

David Saucedo is a security analyst, and he told CBS News that those events are related, as the Mexican government only takes action against fentanyl "when there is pressure from Washington."

He added that "under the pressure by Donald Trump, it appears President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration is willing to increase the capture of drug traffickers and drug seizures that Washington is demanding."

In Saucedo's view, the Mexican state normally "doesn't see fentanyl as one of its own problems, and fighting it isn't its priority."