Mexican Officials Seize $206 Million In Suspected Methamphetamine Money

MEXICO CITY (AP) _ Federal agents seized $206 million believed to be tied to the methamphetamine trade and detained seven people at a luxury home in one of Mexico City's most upscale neighborhoods,

Friday, March 16th 2007, 4:29 pm

By: News On 6

MEXICO CITY (AP) _ Federal agents seized $206 million believed to be tied to the methamphetamine trade and detained seven people at a luxury home in one of Mexico City's most upscale neighborhoods, officials said Friday.

The Attorney General's office said it was Mexico's largest seizure of drug money.

The agents also seized eight luxury vehicles, seven weapons and a machine to make pills Thursday from the home in the Lomas de Chapultepec neighborhood, a collection of walled compounds that is home to ambassadors and Mexican business magnates.

The U.S. dollars were hidden inside walls, suitcases and closets.

Federal investigators said the search of the home was part of an investigation into the company Unimed Pharm Chem de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., which allegedly imported from India large quantities of the ingredients needed to make methamphetamines.

The investigation began in December after officials seized 19.5 tons of pseudoephedrine in the Pacific port of Lazaro Cardenas.

Since the U.S. cracked down on the mass sale of cold medicines used to make methamphetamines, Mexico has become one of the world's largest producers of the synthetic drug.