Tamaulipas authorities seize 485,000 liters of illegal fuel and arrest suspects

Federal and state security forces carried out simultaneous operations in the border cities of Matamoros and Reynosa, Tamaulipas, targeting a network involved in the illegal theft and distribution of fuel. The raids resulted in the seizure of approximately 485,000 L of hydrocarbons—66,500 L in Matamoros and 419,000 L in Reynosa—together with dozens of vehicles, including autotanques, tractor‑trucks and twelve frac‑tanks, as well as high‑pressure hoses, compressors and other storage equipment.

Authorities also confiscated a cache of weapons, notably a Barrett .50 caliber rifle, four long‑guns, 18 magazines, 68 rounds of ammunition and several tactical vehicles. Seven individuals were detained in Matamoros; additional arrests raised the total to 13 persons across both cities. All seized material and detained persons were turned over to the Federal Prosecutor's Office for further investigation as part of Mexico’s broader National Security Strategy against "huachicol" fuel theft.

The operation involved the Mexican Army, the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR), the Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana, the Guardia Nacional, state police and Pemex security personnel, highlighting a coordinated effort to dismantle organized crime networks that profit from fuel smuggling.