Mexico seizes 88 tons of drug precursor chemical shipped from China

Mexico seizes 88 tons of drug precursor chemical

MEXICO CITY — Mexican authorities say they have seized 88 tons (80 metric tons) of a precursor chemical used to make methamphetamines at a Pacific coast seaport.

Officials say it is the country’s largest single seizure of the chemical ethyl phenyl acetate. Known as phenylacetic acid, it can also be used in cocaine processing.

The Attorney General’s Office said Thursday that the chemical was found in five shipping containers sent from China to the port of Manzanillo.

Drug traffickers have turned to phenylacetic acid after Mexico effectively banned imports of another precursor, pseudoephedrine.