Overview and Background
The Federal Proconsumer Office (Profeco) has filed 43 criminal complaints against gas stations found to be selling incomplete liters of fuel, a practice that can constitute a crime by directly affecting consumers’ finances.
Operation Details and Impact
These complaints stem from the Extraordinary Verification Operation of Gas Stations, conducted in collaboration with the Agency for Safety, Energy and Environment (ASEA), as part of the National Strategy to Promote Stability in Gasoline Prices, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
During the operation, which concluded on December 16, Profeco and ASEA inspected 230 gas stations across various states. The inspections revealed several irregularities, including the failure to deliver full liters of fuel, deemed the most serious offense.
As a result, Profeco seized 780 measuring instruments, while ASEA imposed temporary total closures on 161 gas stations for environmental non-compliance.
Continued Oversight and Consumer Awareness
Although the extraordinary operation has concluded, Profeco stated that routine inspections will continue under the Supervision and Trust Defense Subprocurator’s office. If new irregularities are discovered, the authority will impose administrative sanctions or file complaints with the FGR.
Profeco also reiterated its call for consumers to report any discrepancies at gas stations.
Gasoline Price Stability
Profeco highlighted that the national strategy has contributed to gasoline price stability, with a decrease of up to 4% since February. This was achieved after the federal government and gasoline company representatives agreed that the price per liter should not exceed 24 pesos.
During his participation in the People’s Morning Conference on December 15, Procurator Iván Escalante Ruiz presented a regional price comparison.
- In the South region, the liter dropped from 24.80 pesos in February to 23.82 pesos in December, a 4% reduction.
- In the Northeast, it fell from 24.37 to 23.43 pesos, a 4% decrease.
- In the West, it went from 24.73 to 23.86 pesos, a 4% reduction.
Escalante Ruiz noted that the Southeast region remains above 24 pesos due to logistical costs, though it also experienced a 3.2% decrease.
Profeco emphasized its commitment to detecting and exposing gas stations that violate the law or unjustifiably raise prices. The agency encourages citizens to consult the virtual map of gas stations with justified prices on the federal government’s alert portal.
