Background on Huachicol and its Impact
The Government of Mexico, under President Claudia Sheinbaum, has intensified efforts to combat huachicol, the illegal trade of stolen crude and products like gasoline and diesel. This illicit activity causes significant annual losses for Pemex, Mexico’s state-owned petroleum company. The problem extends beyond organized crime to include Pemex employees and other officials, according to authorities.
Discovery of the Clandestine Refinery
On a recent occasion, Omar García Harfuch, the Secretary of Public Security, announced via X (formerly Twitter) that intelligence operations and surveillance led to the identification of an illegal operation in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. This operation produced unauthorized artisanal diesel, light gasoline, solvents, and treated oils or light fuel oil, posing risks to local ecosystems.
García Harfuch further reported that during the raid, over 500,000 liters of crude were recovered along with infrastructure intended for illicit fuel market production.
Implications of the Findings
A Pemex source stated that, although the discovery did not significantly impact the volume of stolen crude or the refinery’s processing capabilities, it highlights the impunity with which criminals operate and the extensive network of complicity among various sectors.
García Harfuch also mentioned another raid where 1.2 million liters of hydrocarbons were secured, along with transport trucks (known as pipas) and containers in the northern state of Nuevo León, aimed at curbing fuel theft.
Recent Successes Against Fuel Theft
By late May, authorities recovered over three million liters of “hydrocarbons” in southeastern Mexico, where fuel smuggling is also prevalent.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is huachicol? Huachicol refers to the illegal trade of stolen crude and petroleum products, such as gasoline and diesel. This activity causes substantial annual losses for Pemex, Mexico’s state-owned petroleum company.
- Who is Claudia Sheinbaum? Claudia Sheinbaum is the current head of the government in Mexico City, serving as the President of the Government of Mexico City. She assumed this role in 2018 after her predecessor, Miguel Ángel Mancera, completed his term.
- What was discovered in Veracruz? Authorities found an illegal mini refinery in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, producing unauthorized diesel, light gasoline, solvents, and treated oils or light fuel oil without proper permits. Over 500,000 liters of crude were also recovered.
- What other actions have been taken against fuel theft? In addition to the Veracruz operation, authorities seized 1.2 million liters of hydrocarbons and transport trucks in Nuevo León to combat fuel theft. In late May, over three million liters of hydrocarbons were recovered in southeastern Mexico, where fuel smuggling is also common.
- What do these findings imply? These discoveries shed light on the impunity with which criminals operate and the widespread complicity among various sectors in Mexico’s fuel theft issue.
