Nearly 9 Tonnes of Meth Found Hidden in Tequila Bottles

Published: 26 April 2023

Drugs in Tequila bottles Mexico

Authorities in Mexico seized 11,520 bottles of tequila that contained liquid methamphetamine. (Photo: Gobierno de México, License)

By Vinicius Madureira

Mexico's naval and customs officers have seized nearly nine tons of liquid methamphetamine hidden in tequila bottles that were ready to be shipped abroad, the Secretariat of the Navy announced.

The officers inspected a container in the coastal city of Manzanillo and found 960 boxes containing 11,520 bottles, each with 750 ml of liquid that appeared to be aged tequila. However, when dogs sniffed them and samples were sent to a lab, it was discovered that the bottles held a total of 8,640 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine.

This is not the first time that authorities have seized meth hidden in tequila bottles. In 2012, a California highway patrol officer pulled over a man heading to Oregon and discovered 15 bottles with tequila labels filled with the powerful and highly addictive stimulant.

The Secretariat, through the Mexican Navy, has been actively combating drug trafficking organizations and has already seized and destroyed over 114.3 tons of methamphetamine this year.

The Manzanillo port, located on the Pacific Ocean, is a destination for both chemical precursors from Asia and a hub for the transit of drugs to the United States and Europe.