Mexico uncovers massive clandestine oil refinery in Nuevo León fueling illegal fuel trade
An investigation by Código Magenta revealed a large‑scale, illegal oil refinery operating in the state of Nuevo León, Mexico. The facility, concealed behind the legitimate towing company Servicios y Grúas Flores, processes 5,000‑10,000 barrels of stolen crude and naphtha each day under open‑air conditions less than 10 km from Pemex’s Cadereyta refinery.
The refinery is tied to a sophisticated criminal‑political network. Energy Refinados S.A. de C.V. is identified as the core company, with Ramiro Gándar listed as administrator and Ezequiel González as a primary beneficiary. Financial flows include more than 5.168 billion pesos in invoiced revenue from 2019‑2026 and cash earnings estimated at 4‑8 billion pesos annually, laundered through tax firms linked to Fernando Bilbao, son‑in‑law of former energy secretary Rocío Nahle, and associated with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Despite a May 2026 raid that seized over one million liters of illicit fuel nearby, federal, state and municipal authorities have not intervened, suggesting systemic corruption.
The investigation draws on intelligence reports, aerial imagery, financial records and witness testimony, highlighting a previously hidden pillar of Mexico’s huachicol (fuel‑theft) economy.