More than 2,600 litres of precursor chemicals used to make methamphetamine have been seized by Vancouver agents with the Canada Border Services Agency.

"The diversion of controlled substances and precursor chemicals frequently used in the production of illegal drugs is a worldwide problem that requires a global solution,” said Kathi Kruhlak, acting chief of the CBSA’s Vancouver Container Examination Facility (CEF), in a statement Tuesday.

The April 19 seizure was made when CBSA officers examined a shipment from China in a marine container declared as soy sauce.

An examination of the 384 pails revealed that 139 of them contained hypophosphorous acid, a precursor chemical used in the production of methamphetamine.

The pails were seized, but no charges have been laid and the investigation continues.

The seizure is the second significant precursor chemical seizure in the Pacific Region in the past six months.

CBSA officers at the Prince Rupert CEF seized more than 14 tonnes of precursor chemicals - the largest precursor chemical seizure on record for CBSA Prince Rupert - in October.

bmorton@vancouversun.com