Feds intercept 1,300 barrels of meth precursor chemicals shipped from China to Mexico
Share this @internewscast.com

Federal officials made a high-seas interception of hundreds of thousands of pounds of two different precursor chemicals that are used to make methamphetamine, a shipment they say came from China and was destined for the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico.

Jeanine Pirro, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, announced what officials called the largest ever bust of precursor chemicals being shipped to a foreign terrorist organization during a news conference in Pasadena, Texas, on Wednesday.

“Tons of chemicals that are used to create synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl are shipped from China to Mexico in China’s undeclared war against America,” Pirro said.

Pirro said that 1,300 barrels containing 363,000 pounds of benzyl alcohol and 334,000 pounds of N-Methylformamide were seized from two different vessels on the high seas. Both chemicals, Pirro said, are precursor chemicals that could have been used to produce 420,000 pounds of methamphetamine.

Precursor chemicals are tightly controlled substances that can be used to create deadly drugs or explosives.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro

Pirro said the seizures happened on the high seas aboard two different vessels that came from a port in Shanghai, China, and were bound for Mexico. (Win McNamee/Getty Images, File)

Pirro declined to comment on the exact location where the chemicals were seized aboard the ships, though she said there were 1,300 barrels inside shipping containers.

The chemicals had been loaded onto the ships from a port in Shanghai, China, Pirro said, adding that they were en route to Mexico to be used by the Sinaloa Cartel. The meth the cartel would have produced would have likely made its way into the U.S.

Pirro said that the seizure will put a dent in the drug trafficking organizations, though it may take them a while to recoup from the loss.

The Trump administration has been putting pressure on China for its role in the fentanyl epidemic in the U.S., which kills tens of thousands of Americans every year.

In a separate instance, the U.S. Treasury Department announced Wednesday that it is sanctioning Chinese chemical company Guangzhou Tengyue Chemical Co., Ltd. and two of the company’s representatives, Huang Xiaojun and Huang Zhanpeng, for manufacturing and coordinating shipments of illicit opioids and chemical agents to the United States.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Syracuse University students face hate crime charges after attacking Jewish fraternity with pork, police say

Syracuse University Students Charged with Hate Crime for Vandalizing Jewish Fraternity with Pork, Authorities Report

Two students attending Syracuse University are facing charges related to hate crimes…
Cold case arrest: Retired sailor arrested in Jacksonville woman's 1994 murder

Arrest Made in 1994 Jacksonville Murder: Former Sailor Taken into Custody

State Attorney Melissa Nelson said a grand jury has indicted Michael Ziegler,…
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address United Nations General Assembly as pressure mounts over Gaza war

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Speak at UN Amid Growing Gaza Conflict Concerns

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, currently facing global isolation, accusations of…
Alabama executes man with nitrogen gas for 1997 shooting death of store clerk

Alabama Uses Nitrogen Gas to Execute Man Convicted of 1997 Store Clerk Shooting

ATMORE Ala. (AP) — An Alabama man found guilty of killing a…
Police-involved shooting: Off-duty NYPD officer shoots man during attempted robbery at New York Penn Station

Off-Duty NYPD Officer Shoots Man in Self-Defense During Robbery Attempt at Penn Station

NEW YORK — An off-duty officer shot a suspect during an attempted…
'Woke' crusader gets slap on the wrist after courtroom outburst, shoving person suing her: 'This is coddling'

“‘Woke’ Activist Receives Mild Penalty After Courtroom Disruption and Altercation with Plaintiff: ‘This is Lenient'”

An activist labeled as “woke” and notorious for dispatching numerous offensive emails…
Chicago shooting: Laroy Battle sentenced to life in prison for killing 2 teens in South Shore who asked how tall he was in 2020

Chicago Incident: Laroy Battle Receives Life Sentence for 2020 Murder of Two Teens in South Shore Over Height Inquiry

A man from Chicago has received a life sentence after being convicted…
Dallas ICE attacker left notes calling agents human traffickers, vowing terror attack

Dallas ICE Assailant Accuses Agents of Human Trafficking in Notes, Pledges Acts of Terror

A gunman with a well-thought-out plan for an attack targeted a Dallas…
Walmart warns of listeria in pre-cooked pasta meals

Walmart Issues Alert for Listeria Risk in Ready-to-Eat Pasta Dishes

Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce meals were distributed to…
Who is Kathryn Nester, Charlie Kirk assassination suspect Tyler Robinson’s attorney?

Who is Tyler Robinson’s attorney, Kathryn Nester, in the Charlie Kirk assassination case?

OREM, Utah — Tyler Robinson, the accused in the Charlie Kirk case,…
Zelenskyy 'ready' to exit office if war ends, open to elections in ceasefire

Zelenskyy Willing to Step Down After War Resolution, Open to Elections During Ceasefire

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested he is ready to step down from…
Manhunt ignites in major US city after accused murderer walks free in 'monumental mistake': victim's mother

Manhunt Launched in Major US City Following Accused Murderer’s Release in ‘Major Error,’ Says Victim’s Mother

A manhunt is underway in Oregon as authorities search for an accused…