Mexico moves to strengthen fuel‑theft penalties, cites US bill

Morena deputy Alfonso Ramírez Cuéllar urged the Mexican Congress to tighten penalties for fuel theft (huachicol) and deepen cooperation with the United States. He pointed to the “Stop Fueling Cartel Violence Act,” introduced in the U.S. Senate on 14 May 2026 by Senators John Cornyn and Jacky Rosen, as evidence that the problem is transnational.

Pemex estimates that criminal groups stole about 987 million litres of fuel in 2024—almost three times the volume recorded in 2019—and that illegal fuel may account for 16‑27 % of Mexico’s total consumption. The illicit trade is projected to cost the Treasury billions of dollars, with daily losses of roughly US$24 million. Ramírez Cuéllar called for reforms to customs, anti‑corruption measures, chemical markers and traceability systems to close gaps from production to retail and to dismantle organized‑crime networks financing the theft.

He argued that confronting huachicol is essential for protecting Pemex, safeguarding public finances and enhancing national security, and that coordinated U.S.–Mexico actions are needed to address the cross‑border dimensions of the crime.