Mexico’s Attorney General’s office recently announced a historical seizure of a jaw dropping amount of chemicals which were primed for the elaboration of an estimated 25 tons of crystal Meth.
The seized chemicals, which were actually from 2 seperate raids on undisclosed dates, totaled an incredible 37 tons.
Intelligence information led authorities to 17 tons of 2-phenylacetamide entering Mexico through the customs post at Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, which lies just across the border from Laredo, Texas.
While approximately 20 tons of sodium phenylacetate were intercepted on arrival in the Pacific port of Manzanillo, Colima.
Sodium phenylacetate and 2-phenylacetamide are derivates of phenylacetic acid, which is employed in clandestine laboratories processing methamphetamine.
-LA TIMES
The Attorney General’s office, quite casually, offered up the fact that “This seizure represents a heavy economic blow to organized crime,” no shit, right?
I mean, I don’t know if you realize what we’re talking about here, but to give you an idea, I’ve ran a few numbers. 37 tons is equivilant to 37,000 kilos or 81,571.037 lbs. In liquid, actually for water, a gallon of water wieghs roughly 8.33 lbs therefore we can estmate 240 gallons is a ton of water. 37 tons, talking water again, is somewhere around 8880 gallons or 33,300 liters, give or take.
Still confused, not seeing the big picture? How about 37 tons of liquid being equivalant to let’s see, 16,650 2- liter bottles of soda pop or 8880 gallons of milk.
The amount of potential income lost is mind staggering. I don’t have exact figures, but in September 2009, 172 lbs of crystal meth were seized in New Orleans; the street value was estimated at 4.2 million dollars.
A seizure of 172 pounds of crystal meth shortly after midnight today marks the largest seizure of the year for state police and the third largest in state history, according to State Police Troop L.
The estimated street value of the meth is more than $4.2 million, said spokesman Sgt. Louis Calato.
-NOLA.COM
Of course street value varies greatly from country to country and even state to state. With that in mind, I won’t even bother trying to calculate how much drug money this might have revenued.
My numbers might not be great, but I think we can safely say two things: First of all, somewhere there’s a narco capo shitting bricks and second it’s a good day when 25 tons of would be Meth are kept from hitting the streets.
