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Drugs

Meth proliferating again as authorities see big spike in seizures of drug on US-Mexico border

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    This Wednesday, June 10, 2015 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, packages of hard drugs are seen in the rear driver side quarter panel of a car carrying more than $377,000 worth of heroin and methamphetamine, seized at the U.S.-Mexico border port of entry in Nogales, Ariz. Authorities are reporting an alarming increase in the number of methamphetamine seizures at border ports of entry. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection via AP) (The Associated Press)

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    This Wednesday, June 10, 2015 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, an officer has ripped apart an ice chest that has packages of hard drugs wrapped around a hollowed out shell that was in a car driven by a Mexican man accused of carrying five pounds of heroin and five pounds of methamphetamine, seized at the U.S.-Mexico border port of entry in Nogales, Ariz. Authorities are reporting an alarming increase in the number of methamphetamine seizures at border ports of entry. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection via AP) (The Associated Press)

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    This Wednesday, June 10, 2015 photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows 16 packages of methamphetamine and heroin found in a car being driven by two Mexican nationals at the U.S.-Mexico border port of entry in Nogales, Ariz. The drugs are worth over $377,000. Authorities are reporting an alarming increase in the number of methamphetamine seizures at border ports of entry. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection via AP) (The Associated Press)

TUCSON, Ariz. – Authorities are reporting an alarming increase in the number of methamphetamine seizures at border ports of entry.

In Arizona, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized over 3,240 pounds of meth between October and May, already surpassing the amount seized in all of the last fiscal year. The federal government's fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

Southern California ports have also seen a spike in both meth and heroin at the border. Heroin seizures have more than tripled since 2009.

Officials say Mexican drug cartels have proliferated in the meth market after the U.S. cracked down on over-the-counter medications used to make the drug. There were fewer meth labs in 2014 than in previous years, according to the DEA.

Drug smugglers use creative ways to get meth into the U.S., such as liquefying it to avoid detection.