Background and Relevance of José Rafael Ojeda Durán
José Rafael Ojeda Durán served as the Secretary of the Navy (Semar) during the presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador. His nephew, Contralmirante Fernando Farías Laguna, is now at the center of a corruption scandal involving fuel theft, known as “huachicol fiscal.”
Delayed Hearing and Formal Proclamation of a Fugitive
The hearing for Contralmirante Fernando Farías Laguna, accused of participating in a corruption ring involved in fuel theft, has been postponed for the third time. He was supposed to appear before Judge Nancy Selene Hidalgo Pérez on Tuesday, but his lawyers requested a reschedule for the following Saturday.
The Fiscal General de la República (FGR) has requested the Policía Federal Ministerial to issue an arrest warrant for Farías, formally accusing him of organized crime related to hydrocarbons. This is to ensure his appearance before the federal judge at the Centro Federal de Readaptación Social (Cefereso) Number 1, also known as El Altiplano, located in Almoloya de Juárez, Estado de México.
If Farías does not attend the hearing, Judge Hidalgo Pérez will formally declare him a fugitive evading justice.
Defense’s Request for Investigation Materials
Farías’ defense team requested the rescheduling of the hearing, citing that they have not received the complete investigation file (FED/FEMDO/FEIORPIFAM-CDMX/0000568/2024) from the FGR. The file is partially redacted, making it difficult to prepare an adequate defense due to missing information about witnesses, dates, investigation techniques, charges, and more.
Corruption Network and Charges
Since September, 14 members of the corruption network have been detained, including high-ranking Semar officials like Vice Admiral Manuel Roberto (Farías’ brother) and representatives of customs brokerage firms. They are accused of facilitating the illegal import of 32 tankers carrying millions of liters of fuel from the United States, evading taxes. Farías Laguna is now considered a fugitive.
According to the Contralmirante’s arrest warrant, he is allegedly part of a criminal organization that devised strategies to control Mexican maritime customs, enabling the illegal import of hydrocarbons disguised as oils and additives to avoid tax payments.
Authorities assert that Farías Laguna, with his rank and experience in the Semar, had the authority to validate and propose key personnel for strategic positions within the Agencia Nacional de Aduanas (ANA), which facilitated the illicit scheme across multiple Mexican ports for fuel trafficking.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is José Rafael Ojeda Durán? He served as the Secretary of the Navy (Semar) during Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s presidency.
- Who is Fernando Farías Laguna? He is Ojeda Durán’s nephew and a Contralmirante in the Mexican Navy, currently facing charges for his alleged involvement in a fuel theft conspiracy.
- What is “huachicol fiscal”? It refers to the illegal theft and trafficking of fuel in Mexico, often involving corruption within government agencies.
- Why is Farías Laguna considered a fugitive? He has not attended the court hearing as ordered, leading authorities to declare him evading justice.
- What are the charges against Farías Laguna? He is accused of being part of a criminal organization that facilitated the illegal import of fuel, evading taxes and disguising it as legitimate oil and additives.
