Mexican authorities seize 27 tons of tartaric acid from China

Mexican authorities have seized more than 27,216 kilograms of tartaric acid at the Lázaro Cárdenas customs office in Michoacán. The shipment originated from Shanghai, China.

The seizure was a coordinated operation involving the Mexican Navy (Semar), the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM), the Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), and the Attorney General's Office (FGR). The intervention was triggered by risk analysis mechanisms and documentary monitoring.

While tartaric acid has legitimate commercial uses in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, authorities noted it can serve as a chemical precursor. Specifically, it can be used to separate and obtain certain chiral forms of substances subject to control, such as those used in the production of methamphetamine. The FGR has requested the immobilization of the cargo and is conducting an investigation to determine the intended destination and whether any import irregularities occurred.