# Illegal oil refining and corruption in Reynosa

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/illegal-oil-refining-and-corruption-in-reynosa
> Updated: 2026-08-14T16:20:00.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

Organized crime in Reynosa, Mexico, has expanded from pipeline tapping to operating large-scale illegal refineries. Investigations indicate these operations are coordinated with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). A specific “huachicol bilateral” operation, allegedly run by James Lael Jensen and Maxwell Sterling Jensen, has been linked to moving Mexican crude to U.S. refineries, with U.S. authorities reporting collusion among customs, naval, and political actors to facilitate shipments.

Recent allegations from Sergio Gutiérrez Luna, Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies, have connected these clandestine refining activities to former government officials in Tamaulipas. Specifically, investigations into Maytrack S. A. de C. V.—the company owning the land where an illegal facility holding nearly 4 million liters of fuel was found—reveal the firm received approximately 208 million pesos in government contracts during the administration of former governor Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca. Critics suggest these contracts were managed by Reynaldo Garza Gómez, acting as a financial operator for the former governor, reinforcing allegations of ties between the state administration and the ‘huachicol’ industry.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-14: Mexican deputy links clandestine refinery to former Tamaulipas governor

A Mexican deputy has linked the former Tamaulipas government to a clandestine refinery in Reynosa, alleging the land owner received 208 million pesos in state contracts during Cabeza de Vaca's term.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexican-deputy-links-clandestine-refinery-to-former-tamaulipas-governor

### 2026-08-05: Reynosa oil theft and illegal refining linked to CJNG cartel

Criminal groups in Reynosa, Mexico, including the CJNG cartel and the Jensen family, have seized state oil functions, running illegal refineries and moving over 4,000 oil loads to the U.S., uncovered by U.S.law

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/reynosa-oil-theft-and-illegal-refining-linked-to-cjng-cartel

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Cite as: Illegal oil refining and corruption in Reynosa. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/illegal-oil-refining-and-corruption-in-reynosa