Hidalgo authorities destroy 143-meter illegal fuel tunnel

Authorities in Hidalgo, Mexico, have begun destroying a 143-meter-long tunnel used for illegal hydrocarbon theft in the community of Teocalco, within the Tlaxcoapan municipality. This structure, identified as the longest detected in the state to date, was originally located in January 2025. It connected a storage warehouse to the Tula-Tuxpan pipeline.

The tunnel posed significant safety risks as it ran beneath active railway tracks and two major roads, including the high-traffic Avenida Libre a Tula. To mitigate the risk of collapse, the tunnel is being filled with fluid concrete and material from railway sleepers. The operation involves the Hidalgo Security Cabinet, the Federal Attorney General's Office (FGR), Pemex, Ferromex, and local civil protection agencies.

This operation marks the 17th tunnel destroyed in Hidalgo between June and September 2026. Authorities noted that while these structures are being eliminated, new clandestine connections continue to be detected, including a 35-meter tunnel recently found in Atitalaquia.