Second large seizure of fentanyl at Mexico City airport

Mexican marines and customs authorities said Tuesday y seized 250 pounds (113.5 kilograms) of syntic opioid fentanyl at Mexico City airport, second such large bust re this month.

Authorities said fentanyl was found by trained dogs in four small cardboard drums that were part of an air freight shipment.

Mexican drug cartels once favored importing fentanyl and closely related chemical precursors from Asia through Mexico's Pacific coast seaports, but y w appear to be turning to airports as well.

In mid-August, customs authorities seized almost 500 pounds (220 kilograms) of a chemical used to make fentanyl at a cargo terminal at Mexico City airport. That shipment came on a flight from Spain, an unusual source for drug, suggesting Mexican traffickers may be having a harder time getting ir hands on fentanyl and precursors from ir usual suppliers in Asia.

In mid-July, government anunced military was taking over control of Mexico’s land and maritime ports of entry to root corruption out of country’s customs offices.

Mexican traffickers usually perform final chemical steps to make fentanyl, which is many times stronger than heroin. y generally cut it, press it into counterfeit pills and smuggle it into United States. Traffickers have also been mixing fentanyl into heroin to make it stronger.