CJNG Chemical Dispersing IED Array Neutralized 

By Mr. Shair Arbel, CEO, Terrogence Global, Israel

On 27 December 2022, municipal authorities of Coahuayana, Mexico, reported the discovery of a chemical dispersing improvised explosive device (IED) array comprising jars of carbamate insecticides attached to sticks of dynamite, daisy-chained with electric wire planted at intervals of ten meters on a narrow road on the banks of the Coahuayana River, on the border of the Mexican states of Colima and Michoacán. 

This is the first known attempt by a criminal group to use a chemical dispersing IED in this arena and it is described as a new narcoterror tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) by Mexican authorities. While the IEDs were neutralized on this occasion, the threat had the potential to harm not only the targeted self-defense group, but could also have environmental and economic repercussions. 

Chemical Dispersing IED Array Neutralized in Coahuayana, Michoacán, Mexico 

On December 27, 2022, residents of Coahuayana, in Mexico’s Michoacán State, discovered a chemical IED array comprising over a dozen glass jars containing insecticides, some strapped to sticks of dynamite, planted approximately 10 meters apart and connected with electric wire on the side of a narrow road along the banks of the Coahuayana River, near the Callejones diversion dam, on the road to Cerro de Ortega, on the border of Colima and Michoacán states.  

Reportedly, members of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) who attempted to initiate the IED array were repelled by local heavily-armed self-defense groups who valiantly resist the CJNG in Coahuayana. These groups protect an area called “Colonia de la Paz” anchored between the sea and vast banana plantation fields, where people forcibly displaced by CJNG violence have found refuge and are willing to fight to protect it. The CJNG has repeatedly attacked the area using armed drones and heavy firepower as it seeks to secure access for its smuggling routes to the sea in Coahuayana. 

According to the reporting, the neutralization of the IEDs took 48 hours, probably owing to the limited police and army presence in this area. 

The two insecticides in the IEDs were identified as methomyl and carbofuran, both carbamates, a teaspoon of either can kill a human, affecting the central nervous system. 

Methomyl and Carbofuran 

As stated, the two insecticides in the IEDs were identified as methomyl and carbofuran, both of which are carbamates. 

Methomyl 

Methomyl is a white crystalline solid with a slight sulfurous odor. It is an oxime carbamate insecticide. Like other carbamates, it inhibits the acetylcholinesterase neurotransmitter and can cause nerve and tissue failure. Methomyl is highly toxic by the oral route, moderately toxic by inhalation, and has low dermal toxicity. Fatalities have resulted from methomyl ingestion, and from a combined inhalation and transdermal absorption. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides. 

Methomyl is not very persistent in complex soils (half-life of 1 day – a few weeks. It is highly water-soluble (54.7 g/L at 25 °C) and has moderate adsorption coefficient [Koc = 160] that favors its contamination in surface and ground waters. Its half-life in plants is a few days. 

Toxicity: 

• LD50 oral value in rats: 17-24 mg/kg 
• LC50 inhalation value in rats: 450 mg/m3 

48-hour EC50 value in Crustacea (Daphnia magna): 0.009mg/L 

96-hour LC50 value in freshwater fish (Ictalurus punctatus): 0.3-0.5 mg/L 

ECHA classification: 

Acute Toxicity 2. Fatal if swallowed.  

Aquatic Acute 1. Very toxic to aquatic life. 

Aquatic Chronic 1. Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. 

Carbofuran 

Carbofuran is an odorless white crystalline solid. It is an N-methyl carbamate insecticide. Like other carbamates, it inhibits the acetylcholinesterase neurotransmitter and can cause nerve and tissue failure. 

Carbofuran is highly toxic by the oral route and by inhalation and has low dermal toxicity. Fatalities from carbofuran ingestion have been reported. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of nitrogen oxides. 

Carbofuran is moderately persistent in soil (half-life of 55–115.5 days). It is water-soluble (0.7 g/L at 25 °C) and has low adsorption coefficient [Koc = 30] that strongly favors its contamination in surface and ground waters. In plants, carbofuran is degraded to the conjugate of 3-hydroxy-carbofuran, which is present in the plant at least for 28 days after treatment. 3-Hydroxy-carbofuran is highly toxic (LD50 in rats: 7 mg/kg.) 

Name: 7-Benzofuranol, 2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-, 7-(N-methylcarbamate) 

Other names: Adifur, Chinufur, Curaterr, Diafuran, Furadan, Sunfuran, Terafuran 

CAS no.: 1563-66-2 

Mol. formula: C₁₂H₁₅NO₃ 

Melting point: 153-154 °C  

Boiling point: 313 °C 

Vapor pressure: 0.00000054 mmHg (25°C) 

Toxicity: 

• LD50 oral value in rats: 5-13 mg/kg 
• LC50 inhalation value in rats: 85 mg/m3 

48-hour EC50 value in Crustacea (Ceriodaphnia dubia): 0.002mg/L 

96-hour LC50 value in freshwater fish (Poecilia reticulata): 0.22 mg/L 

ECHA classification: 

Acute Toxicity 2. Fatal if swallowed.  

Acute Toxicity 2. Fatal if inhaled.  

Aquatic Acute 1. Very toxic to aquatic life. 

Aquatic Chronic 1. Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. 

Chemical IEDs 

The combination of an IED with a chemical agent does not usually produce a high degree of lethality due to the high temperature during ignition that may neutralize/burn the gas or liquid toxicity, particularly if the amount of explosives is large compared to the chemical. On the other hand, explosives are a good diffusion vehicle to deliver the product to the atmosphere and the main goal of such an attack with improvised substances is generally to produce a psychological effect rather than casualties. 

There are basically four different ways to improvise dispersal of a chemical agent: 

1. IED: an IED always has a big impact due to its nature. 

Adding a chemical component to the explosion may add more panic, notoriety, and fear to the event. Fortunately, as explained before, the explosion reduces the efficiency. As a result, high fear-provoking effect but low chemical efficiency. 

2. Binary device, involving the mixing of two chemicals. 

Easy to create, transport in a bag or box, and widely published on terrorist sites. The main disadvantage is that it is only efficient in confined and relatively small places.  Some examples: 

• The May 1995 Aum Shinrikyo cult attempted to achieve a hydrogen cyanide attack in the Tokyo Shinjuku subway station, using a device to react a bag of diluted sulfuric acid with a bag of powdered sodium cyanide. Another alleged attack attempted by this cult in the Kayabacho Tokyo subway station was foiled when a timed device containing the same chemical was discovered. In 2003, an Al-Qaeda plot to release cyanide gas into the New York City subway system was also thwarted.  

3. Sprayer: the sprayer is the most effective way to deliver a chemical agent and may be the cheapest and simple. The wind direction is a key factor and difficult to control. Therefore, great expertise is needed to reach the lethal effect desired. On the other hand, there is no ‘wow’ effect as in the combination with an IED initiation. 

4. Indirect fire: preparing an improvised mortar bomb or rocket as a tool to deliver a chemical agent is not easy. There are physical effects that must be taken into account, such as stability in flight and the exact number of explosives to deliver the agent without consuming it in the blast. 

Conclusion 

A serious incident was averted by the discovery and failure to initiate the CJNG chemical dispersal IED array in Coahuayana, Michoacán in December 2022. As stated, local defense forces were targeted in the planned attack, with the environmental damage being either an additional target, calculated collateral damage or an additional means of creating terror. The audacity and unrestrained violence of the CJNG means that continued armed resistance along the desired geographical area may well result in the unleashing of additional attempted chemical IED and other attacks, possibly including chemical IEDs delivered via UAVs, as the group has already attacked self-defense forces this area with armed UAVs. This new TTP is likely to pose a threat to military and police forces elsewhere in Mexico, in addition to the civilian self-defense groups initially targeted on this occasion. 

About the Author

Mr. Shair Arbel is the Chief Executive Officer of Terrogence Global. Prior to establishing Terrogence Global, Mr. Arbel served as team leader in 8200 Intelligence unit in the IDF. Following his service, he joined the Israeli Security Agency (ISA), taking a position as a communications analyst. Mr. Arbel has been a part of the Terrogence team from the beginning in 2005.