Mexico President Sheinbaum Sends Naval Letters to Prosecutors Over Fuel Smuggling

President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed she received letters from a retired vice admiral of the Mexican Navy accusing the Federal Prosecutor's Office of omitting information in an investigation of fuel smuggling, commonly known as "huachicol fiscal." She said the correspondence would be sent in full to the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) for formal analysis.

The case stems from a federal operation on 31 March 2025 in the port of Tampico, Tamaulipas, where authorities seized a merchant vessel carrying 10 million litres of undeclared diesel, disguised under falsified customs documentation. The seizure led to arrests of 13 individuals—including businessmen, Navy personnel and officials of the National Customs Agency—linked to a criminal network identified as "Los Primos." The FGR has issued arrest warrants and seized fuel, storage terminals, trucks, weapons and digital accounting records.

The vice admiral, now held in a maximum‑security prison, claims his rights were violated and has asked the executive to compel the Navy to provide copies of the internal investigation file. Sheinbaum emphasized that the FGR has exclusive authority to decide whether to pursue charges against public officials or party members alleged to be involved.