[REVISION HISTORY]

Fuel theft and illegal pipeline taps in Mexico

Updated 6 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-01 00:19 UTC → 2026-09-07 10:52 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) reported a rise in illegal hydrocarbon pipeline taps during the first four months of 2026, with 3,836 incidents recorded nationwide. This represented a 3.7% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Hidalgo was identified as the state with the highest number of incidents, while the State of Mexico saw a 99% increase in unauthorized perforations in specific municipalities. In response, the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) conducted operations in Mineral de la Reforma, Hidalgo, seizing approximately 173,800 liters of a petroleum-like liquid and disabling six clandestine taps. To address economic drivers, Pemex signed a collaboration agreement with the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) to share intelligence and dismantle the financial structures supporting fuel theft. Recent large-scale operations in Tamaulipas, near the United States border, have targeted ‘huachicol’—the illegal importation of fuel from the U.S. for untaxed resale. These raids, involving a ranch, a clandestine gas station, and a storage center, resulted in the seizure of 68,000 liters of diesel, firearms, and various equipment. The ~~operations~~ operations, which involved the Secretaría de Marina (Semar) and the FGR in a crackdown against the Gulf Cartel, also uncovered an illegal wildlife ~~sanctuary, leading to the rescue of~~ sanctuary. Authorities rescued 135 exotic animals, including ~~African lions,~~ Bengal tigers, jaguars, African lions, hyenas, ~~American~~ bison, and camels. At least 35 of these animals belong to species threatened with extinction. The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) ~~issued an expert report confirming~~ confirmed that 90 of the rescued specimens are listed under national or international protection status, such as the NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 standard or CITES. ~~The rescued wildlife includes large carnivores like hyenas and jaguars, as well as primates and spider monkeys.~~ While Profepa reported the animals are in “favorable physical and health conditions,” the Tamaulipas Commission of Parks and Biodiversity has offered to assist with temporary housing for certain species, ~~such as felines,~~ noting that state parks lack the capacity to accommodate all specimens.

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