State of Mexico police and Guard seize fuel thieves in coordinated crackdown

On July 6, 2026, agents of the State of Mexico's Secretariat of Security (SSEM), the National Guard, and PEMEX security personnel detained two men after spotting a fuel‑laden tractor‑trailer parked beside an illegal diesel tap in the San Mateo Ixtacalco neighborhood of Melchor Ocampo. The suspects fled when authorities arrived but were apprehended a short distance away, and the vehicle and evidence were secured for prosecution.

Separately, the police forces of the municipalities of Ecatepec, Acolman and San Salvador Atenco signed an agreement to conduct joint patrols, share operational intelligence and coordinate with federal forces to combat fuel theft, vehicle robbery and other high‑impact crimes along their shared borders. The plan includes inter‑municipal patrols at varying times, enhanced presence in identified hotspots such as the El Salado area, and cooperation with the Marine Task Force of Ecatepec and Pemex’s pipeline security.

Both actions reflect a broader effort by local and federal authorities in the State of Mexico to curb the lucrative “huachicol” trade that siphons diesel from pipelines and fuels organized crime.