40,000 pounds of meth precursor seized from ship in Mexico

Nearly 40,000lbs (18,000kg) of the methamphetamine precursor chemical phenyl acetic acid were confiscated earlier this month by Mexican officials from a cargo ship that originated in China, according to The Associated Press. The material was found by Mexican marines inside of 720 drums on-board the vessel at the Pacific port of Manzanillo, the news service said. The ship had reportedly left Shanghai for Lazaro Cardenas, which is a Mexican port that is a notorious route for smuggling phenyl acetic acid from Asia.