Mexican Government Seizes Millions of Liters of Illicit Fuel
Omar García Harfuch, the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, announced that the federal government has seized millions of liters of illicitly obtained fuel in recent operations conducted in Tabasco and Coahuila.
Key Operations
- Tabasco: Authorities seized 1.28 million liters of diesel in operations carried out in the municipality of Cárdenas. Additionally, vehicles, trailers, and containers were confiscated.
- Saltillo, Coahuila: Following up on the case of a ship seized in March in Tamaulipas containing 10 million liters of fuel, nearly 2 million liters were found illegally stored on a property.
- Central Zone (CDMX, Edomex, and Querétaro): A criminal network was dismantled after six months of investigation. Although the exact volume wasn’t specified, it’s one of the main structures involved in the illegal acquisition and distribution of fuel.
Sheinbaum Outlines the Fate of Confiscated Fuel
Claudia Sheinbaum, the Head of Government of Mexico City, clarified that once the FGR (Fiscalía General de la República) releases the fuel and confirms its quality through tests, it can be used by the National Guard, other public institutions, or even donated to communities.
Sheinbaum emphasized that the fuel is not wasted if it’s suitable for use; instead, it’s channeled for public purposes. However, the FGR must first release it.
Ongoing Efforts to Combat Fuel Theft
The Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) confirmed that operations will continue to weaken the distribution chains of illicit fuels. Since the beginning of this administration, there have been raids, seizures, and arrests related to the so-called “huachicoleo” as part of a comprehensive strategy to safeguard the country’s energy resources.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the recent action taken by the Mexican government regarding stolen fuel? The federal government, under the leadership of Omar García Harfuch, has seized millions of liters of illicitly obtained fuel in Tabasco and Coahuila through recent operations.
- How is the fate of confiscated fuel determined? The Fiscal General de la República (FGR) determines the legal destination of the confiscated fuel after confirming its quality through tests. Once released, it can be used by the National Guard, other public institutions, or donated to communities.
- What significant operations have been conducted recently?
- In Tabasco, 1.28 million liters of diesel were seized in Cárdenas along with vehicles, trailers, and containers.
- In Saltillo, Coahuila, nearly 2 million liters of fuel were found illegally stored following the seizure of a ship in Tamaulipas containing 10 million liters.
- In the Central Zone (CDMX, Edomex, and Querétaro), a major criminal network was dismantled after six months of investigation, though the exact volume wasn’t specified.
- What measures is the Mexican government taking to combat fuel theft? The SSPC, led by Omar García Harfuch, is conducting ongoing operations to weaken the distribution chains of illicit fuels. This includes raids, seizures, and arrests related to “huachicoleo” as part of a comprehensive strategy to protect the nation’s energy resources.
