Mexican authorities sieze more than 400,000 fentanyl pills

MEXICO CITY, Mexico — More than 400,000 pills containing the deadly opioid fentanyl were seized and destroyed by Mexico's Attorney General's office, along with six tons of chemical precursors for the drugs, the agency said Wednesday.

A statement said the narcotics were seized in multiple operations in the western Mexico state of Jalisco, where the powerful New Generation cartel operates.

The agency seized "416,751 tablets and 6.9 kilograms (15 pounds) of fentanyl, 990 acetaminophen tablets" and more than six tons of twenty different chemical precursors, all of which were destroyed.

Mexico has ramped up its operations against the trafficking of synthetic narcotics, especially fentanyl, with US President-elect Donald Trump ramping up pressure on the issue.

The Republican, who will begin his second term on January 20, has threatened to levy 25-percent tariffs on Mexican exports if the country fails to contain drug trafficking and the influx of illegal immigrants to the United States.

Earlier in December, the Mexican government announced the seizure of over one million fentanyl pills, described as "the largest seizure of fentanyl in history" by Mexican Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin, has been linked to tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the United States.

Mexico is one of the main trafficking routes for the drug and for the chemicals to manufacture it, most of which come from China.

Trump has also threatened tariff hikes on Canada and China over illegal migration and their alleged role in the US opioid crisis.