U.S. Concerned Over Tons Of Missing Cyanide In Mexico

May 23, 2002

WASHINGTON - The United States on Tuesday expressed concern over the whereabouts of some 10 tons of deadly sodium cyanide that was stolen along with a delivery truck last week in Mexico.
State Department counter-terrorism coordinator Francis Taylor said it was not clear to either U.S. or Mexican authorities where the missing chemical was, but said the two countries were in contact to discuss the matter.
"We're always concerned when anything with that kind of danger associated to it goes out of control and certainly we are in contact with the Mexican government on that in terms of their investigation into that particular incident," Taylor said.
Mexican police have been on high alert since the cyanide was stolen with the truck on May 12, although officials have said they believe the thieves had not been after the chemical but rather the new vehicle that carried the barrels of cyanide.
Police have asked civilians to inform them if they come across the barrels of small cyanide packets and warned that the substance, used in treating steel, could turn into a lethal acid if it comes into contact with air or water.
The truck's driver, Jose Alberto Garcia, told police he had stopped to help a motorist who was having car trouble. But he was caught off guard by a trio of armed men, who took off with his vehicle and its cargo, which had been destined for a mining company.

http://www.thenewsmexico.com/noticia.asp?id=26218