(NewsNation) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection seized more than 55 tons of dicumyl peroxide, a chemical precursor used to produce methamphetamines and other narcotics, last week at the Port of Long Beach, California, according to an ICE news release.

According to immigration officials, the shipment originated in China and was en route to the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico.

“For far too long, the Mexican drug cartels have raked in billions of dollars at the expense of our local communities, leaving nothing but addiction, death and despair in their wake,” said ICE special agent Chad Plantz. “This initiative provides HSI with a game-changing method to stay one step ahead of the cartels by disrupting the flow of chemicals that they depend on to produce illicit narcotics.”

The Sinaloa cartel is known for its violence, engaging in shootouts, kidnappings, torture and murders and targeting officials. It controls the drug trade in various parts of Central America and in many areas of Mexico, including in the border city of Tijuana, across from San Diego, according to U.S. officials.