Mexico seizes over 250,000 litres of illegal fuel in Veracruz raid
Federal authorities in Mexico carried out a large‑scale operation in the municipality of Tihuatlán, Veracruz, after an anonymous tip warned of illicit fuel stored at a property in the Plan de Ayala area. A judge‑issued search warrant allowed the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) and cooperating agencies to seize roughly 250,000 litres of hydrocarbons, including more than 20 tractor‑trucks, 12 storage tanks, 52 small containers and additional fuel‑handling equipment.
The raid resulted in the arrest of 12 individuals suspected of involvement in the illegal fuel trade, known locally as “huachicol”. In addition to the fuel, investigators confiscated laboratory glassware, electronic devices, payment tags, vehicle plates, identification cards, computers, checkbooks, CD storage discs and purchase receipts. Participation came from the FGR’s specialized asset‑seizure office, the Federal Ministerial Police, the Criminal Investigation Agency, Veracruz state security forces, as well as members of the national defense cabinet, navy and guard.
The detained persons were placed under the jurisdiction of the Federal Public Ministry pending further legal proceedings.