Seizures of methamphetamine at U.S. ports of entry along the California-Mexico border reached unprecedented levels in 2014.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports the U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures show 14,732 pounds of meth were seized by the San Diego field office during the fiscal year that ended on Sept. 30.

“The Mexican cartels are flooding the U.S. marketplace with their cheap methamphetamine," Gary Hill, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's assistant special agent in charge in San Diego, said.

In San Diego, undercover agents have been purchasing meth for around $3,500 a pound, which is significantly less expensive than the $11,800 they typically spend for a pound of cocaine.

“We have seen the trend of the price of meth decreasing tremendously since 2008,” Hill explained.

The highly addictive synthetic drug used to be primarily manufactured domestically. San Diego was once known as a major production hub for the illegal substance, but, as the U.S. has cracked down on the chemicals needed in order to make the synthetic drug, the manufacture of meth has moved to Mexico. Drug cartels now find it more cost effective, as well as simply easier, to produce and smuggle meth over the border rather than move cocaine in from South America.

Authorities in San Diego have seen dire consequences of more meth coming across the border.

Angela Goldberg, coordinator for the Meth Strike Force, an effort by law enforcement and health officials in San Diego County to combat meth, said that emergency room visits as well as deaths are up, as are the number meth-related arrests, Fox reports.

"It's very hard to get past these drug cartels," Goldberg said. "They're very good at what they do."

Drug prosecutions in San Diego County for meth crimes has jumped from eight in 2013 to 60 in 2014.

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