What is the most popular method of reduction in large scale methamphetamine production?

[Jack]

Mexican cartels produce large quantities of methamphetamine, They permit journalists to tour their labs and even interview them, the journalists never have the sense to ask them questions pretaining to choice of reagent for reduction. Does anyone know?

 

[WillD]

Most large laboratories use benzyl cyanide to start. From the benzyl cyanide we obtain phenylacetone, the imine derivatives with methylamine and a reduction with hydrogen on the catalyst.

 

[MadHatter]

One would think cartel-sized labs would have access to ephedrine. So why not use that to get an enantiomericly pure product directly? Cost?

 

[HIGGS BOSSON]

Ephedrine is highly controlled, it is very difficult to reach in large quantities. P2P can be synthesized in many ways.