Background on Ricardo Monreal and His Relevance
Ricardo Monreal, the parliamentary leader of Morena in the Chamber of Deputies, has been a prominent figure in Mexican politics. As a member of the ruling party, Morena, Monreal has been instrumental in shaping policy discussions and advocating for progressive reforms. His recent call for action against an international huachicol network highlights his commitment to addressing corruption and criminal activities within Mexico.
The Huachicol Network and Its Impact
Huachicol, the illegal diversion and theft of fuel from Pemex’s pipelines, has long plagued Mexico. The recent revelation of an international huachicol network involving Mexican cartels has sparked concern and prompted Monreal’s call for investigation.
- The network involves criminal organizations, including the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels, who collaborate with corrupt Pemex officials and intermediaries to smuggle stolen oil across borders.
- The stolen fuel is sold to small US-based companies near the border, facilitating the laundering of money and further criminal activities.
- This illicit operation has expanded its reach, with stolen oil reportedly ending up in countries like India and Japan.
Monreal’s Proposals and Concerns
In response to this growing issue, Monreal has proposed the following actions:
- Fiscal General de la República (FGR) Investigation: Monreal urges the FGR to launch a thorough investigation into the international huachicol network.
- Secretaría de Seguridad Pública and Gabinete de Seguridad Involvement: He believes that both the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública and Gabinete de Seguridad should be involved in addressing this issue.
- Comparecencia de Autoridades Federales: Monreal plans to request hearings with federal authorities to shed light on the matter and expose any potential complicitous relationships with customs officials, Pemex employees, or drug cartels.
Criticism from Opposition Party
Federico Döring, vicecoordinador of the Partido Acción Nacional (PAN), has criticized the federal government’s silence on the growing huachicol problem.
- Döring claims that the huachicol issue now extends beyond just fuel, encompassing stolen oil being smuggled to countries like India and Japan.
- He accuses the federal government of ignoring the problem and using distractions, such as references to former President Zedillo, to divert attention from the issue.
FinCEN Alert and Its Implications
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an alert after detecting that the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels are using Mexican intermediaries in the oil and natural gas industry to smuggle and sell stolen Pemex crude oil to small US companies near the border.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is huachicol? Huachicol refers to the illegal diversion and theft of fuel, primarily from Pemex’s pipelines, which has been a persistent problem in Mexico.
- Who is involved in the international huachicol network? The network involves Mexican cartels, such as Sinaloa and Jalisco, along with corrupt Pemex officials and intermediaries.
- What are the implications of this illicit operation? The stolen oil is sold to small US-based companies, facilitating money laundering and criminal activities. The operation has expanded its reach, with stolen oil reportedly ending up in countries like India and Japan.
- What actions has Ricardo Monreal proposed? Monreal has called for an FGR investigation, involvement of the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública and Gabinete de Seguridad, and hearings with federal authorities to expose any complicitous relationships.
