Hijacked cyanide truck discovered in Mexico

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A hijacked Mexican tractor-trailer loaded with 10 tons of deadly cyanide was recovered Thursday near the place it was stolen, a Mexican embassy official told CNN, but it was unclear whether all 96 drums were recovered with the truck.

Mireya Magaha, a spokesman for the Mexican embassy in Washington, told CNN he was receiving conflicting reports from various government agencies, including unconfirmed reports that some of the cyanide was missing.

A Federal Police spokesman said authorities have not been able to approach the truck to check on its cargo because environmental officials want to make sure none of the poisonous liquid has spilled.

The truck was held up by three men Friday on a stretch of highway near Ixmiquilpan, about 150 miles north of Mexico City, Mexico, Federal Police spokesman Oscar Hernandez said.

It was found in Hidalgo, Mexico, near the Puebla state line.

Police said no arrests have been made. Investigators said they suspected the tractor-trailer was stolen to be stripped down and sold as spare parts.

It is not known whether the robbers were aware the vehicle was carrying the cyanide, which was being transported to a metals processing plant in Pachuca. The highway where the robbery occurred leads to Nuevo Laredo on the Mexico-Texas border.

Cyanide, which is difficult to detect and smell, is a toxic chemical used in insecticides and the refining of gold and silver.