# Investigations involving Ernesto Ruffo Appel

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/investigations-involving-ernesto-ruffo-appel
> Updated: 2026-08-08T12:55:59.000Z. Sources: 32. Developments: 2.

Mexico's Federal Attorney General's Office (FGR) has initiated actions regarding former Baja California governor Ernesto Ruffo Appel. Initially, the FGR announced it would examine evidence to determine if criminal proceedings were warranted following allegations that Ruffo Appel had ties to the Arellano Félix cartel.

Subsequent developments in a separate fuel smuggling investigation have linked the imprisoned former governor to Ingemar S.A. de C.V. In this case, the FGR arrested the company's legal representative, Guadalupe Hernández Hinojosa, for her alleged role in a network that used railway tanks to transport illicit hydrocarbons from the United States to Mexico. The arrest of Hernández Hinojosa in Mexico City brings the total number of detainees in this investigation to nine. 

As of August 2026, eight of the nine detainees have been formally charged. The investigation follows the July 2025 discovery of 33 abandoned railway tanks in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila. Authorities allege the scheme utilized shell companies, logistics operators, and customs agents to mislabel products or declare significantly lower volumes—sometimes only 10% of the actual amount—to evade taxes. The criminal organization reportedly mixed illegal fuel with legal products to bypass identification. Investigators report that Ingemar allegedly imported more than 2,500 million liters of fuel in 2025, a volume that vastly exceeds its authorized limits.

## Claims

- The criminal network used rail tanks to transport and smuggle fuel. (corroborated by 22 sources)
- Guadalupe Hernández Hinojosa was arrested in Mexico City for suspected involvement in organized crime and smuggling. (corroborated by 21 sources)
- Guadalupe Hernández Hinojosa was the legal representative of the company Ingemar S.A. de C.V. (corroborated by 21 sources)
- Ernesto Ruffo Appel is a partner of Ingemar S.A. de C.V. (corroborated by 21 sources)
- A total of nine people have been arrested in connection with this fuel smuggling case. (corroborated by 19 sources)
- The investigation began after 33 abandoned rail tanks were found in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, in July 2025. (corroborated by 11 sources)
- The criminal network mixed illegal fuel with legal products to evade detection and taxes. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- Ingemar imported more than 2,500 million liters of fuel in 2025, exceeding its authorized amount. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-08: Guadalupe Hernández Hinojosa arrested in Mexico City fuel smuggling case

Mexico's FGR arrested Guadalupe Hernández Hinojosa, legal representative of Ingemar, for her alleged role in a massive rail-based fuel smuggling network linked to former Baja California governor Ernesto Ruffo.

28 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-arrests-legal-representative-of-ingemar-in-fuel-smuggling-case

### 2026-07-30: Ernesto Ruffo Appel investigated for alleged Arellano Félix cartel links

Mexico's FGR will assess evidence to investigate former governor Ernesto Ruffo Appel over alleged ties to the Arellano Félix cartel, revisiting accusations from 1993 and 2017 amid political tension.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ernesto-ruffo-appel-investigated-for-alleged-arellano-flix-cartel-links

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Cite as: Investigations involving Ernesto Ruffo Appel. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/investigations-involving-ernesto-ruffo-appel