PASADENA, Texas — U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Janine Pirro announced Wednesday in Pasadena, Texas, the largest federal seizure of drug precursor chemicals in U.S. history. The chemicals, intercepted in two separate maritime operations, were en route from China to Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel.
U.S. Attorney Janine Pirro reported that the seized chemicals included 363,000 pounds of benzyl alcohol, a substance that can be converted into benzyl chloride, a DEA List II chemical restricted in many countries due to its potential use in producing illegal amphetamine-type drugs. In addition, 334,000 pounds of N-methyl formamide—a chemical on the DEA’s special surveillance list for laboratory supplies used in controlled substance production—were also intercepted.
Addressing the impact of this chemical supply chain on the U.S., Pirro told reporters, “Every day, tons of chemicals used to create synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl are shipped from China to Mexico in China’s undeclared war against America and her citizens. Every day, across funeral homes in this country, we see the tragic consequences of this undeclared war.”
Pirro noted that the seized precursor chemicals could produce up to 420,000 pounds of methamphetamine for the Sinaloa Cartel, whose labs currently have the capacity to manufacture a ton of methamphetamine per week. She estimated that the potential methamphetamine production from these chemicals could be worth $569 million in the Houston area, with that value rising as the drugs move into markets along the U.S. East Coast.
The press conference included U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons, HSI Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz, CBP Houston Director of Field Operations Jud Murdock, DEA Houston Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell, and FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams.
The seizure was a joint effort among the agencies present and the U.S. Department of Defense. According to Pirro, the shipments originated in Shanghai, China, and were destined for the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico—now designated a foreign terrorist organization under the Trump administration.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia secured the warrant authorizing the seizure of the chemicals. With the Sinaloa Cartel designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization on January 20, 2025, under the Trump administration, federal prosecutors in the district were empowered to carry out the seizure using the terrorism forfeiture provision.
The two maritime seizures took place in international waters off the coast of Panama and involved 1,300 barrels of the two hazardous chemicals. Highlighting the scale of the operation, Pirro told reporters that transporting the barrels to a secure storage facility would require 24 semi-tractor trailers.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior news contributor for the Breitbart Texas-Border team. A founding member of Breitbart Texas, Price is also a regular panelist on Fox 26 Houston’s Sunday morning talk show What’s Your Point?. He is a U.S. Air Force veteran and president of Blue Wonder Gun Care Products.
Randy Clark is a 32-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol. Before retiring, he was Division Chief for Law Enforcement Operations, overseeing nine Border Patrol stations within the Del Rio, Texas, Sector. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @RandyClarkBBTX.
