Hidalgo faces growing illegal fuel theft operations

Illegal fuel extraction, known as ‘huachicol’, is expanding in the Mexican state of Hidalgo. Organized crime groups have displaced local actors in regions such as Tula and Tepeji, spreading their operations to Cuautepec de Hinojosa, Santiago Tulantepec, and the Pachuca Metropolitan Area.

In Tizayuca, authorities recently discovered an installation containing 450,000 liters of hydrocarbons. This follows a pattern of discovered illegal refineries and extraction sites in other Mexican states, including Veracruz, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, and Morelos. Experts note that poverty and insufficient federal surveillance provide a social and operational base for these criminal activities.