Ex-Baja Governor Ernesto Ruffo Appel Detained for Fuel Smuggling
The Federal Prosecutor's Office (FGR) secured an arrest order for former Baja California governor Ernesto Ruffo Appel, a 74‑year‑old PAN pioneer who broke the PRI’s monopoly when he won the 1989 election. On 16 July 2026, SSPC agents detained him in Ensenada and placed him under the authority of the Ministry of Public Safety pending a judicial determination.
Ruffo Appel is accused of organized‑crime and “huachicol fiscal” – the illegal import of gasoline and diesel from Texas using false customs declarations. The investigation links him to a company he founded, identified as Ingemar, which allegedly facilitated the movement of fuel by rail, reporting only 10 % of the actual cargo (about 10 000 L instead of up to 110 000 L per tank‑car). Authorities estimate the scheme caused fiscal losses exceeding 4 billion pesos, involving roughly 15 million liters of hydrocarbon.
President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly denied any political motive, emphasizing that the case stems from a high‑complexity federal probe. The arrest is part of a broader crackdown on fuel‑smuggling networks that have implicated other officials and criminal groups across northern Mexico.