Mexico combats fuel smuggling and 4.6 billion peso tax evasion

Mexican authorities have reported significant progress in combating fuel smuggling and tax evasion between September 2025 and June 2026. The Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) opened 9,459 investigation files regarding the theft and smuggling of hydrocarbons, resulting in the seizure of 10.3 million liters of fuel and the arrest of 859 individuals.

Simultaneously, the Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (ANAM) identified 3,109 cases of potential smuggling involving 109.4 million liters of hydrocarbons. These activities attempted to evade approximately 4.6 billion pesos in tax contributions, including VAT and special production taxes. Customs officials utilized non-intrusive inspection systems across 50 customs offices to detect these undeclared products.

The Secretaría de Energía also reported blocking 1,419 attempted fuel thefts and seizing 37.1 million liters of illicit fuel. These operations led to the discovery of 1,938 clandestine connections and the seizure of various vehicles, including tankers, trucks, and a vessel.