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Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations

47 recorded revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-11-03 23:26 UTC → 2026-11-04 20:11 UTC · added removed

Mexican authorities continue to combat illegal fuel operations, known as ‘huachicol,’ which have evolved into a massive criminal enterprise. Between 2018 and 2025, an estimated 147 billion liters of fuel were moved through illegal channels, representing a potential market value of 3.1 trillion pesos. This illicit economy has attracted drug cartels, making fuel smuggling a primary revenue source second only to narcotics. In late October 2026, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that Mexico recovered approximately 48 billion pesos in Special Tax on Production and Services (IEPS) revenue through September 2026. This follows the identification of a massive fuel imbalance in 2025, where an estimated 8.824 billion liters of fuel were unaccounted for, resulting in roughly 61.7 billion pesos in lost tax revenue. The Ministry of Energy reported that 72% of these fiscal irregularities were concentrated in the commercialization sector. To combat this, 16 federal institutions are utilizing a new Hydrocarbon Data Analysis Center to track fuel from import to retail. To date, authorities have detained 2,539 people, seized 173.7 million liters of hydrocarbons, and impounded 5,572 transport units. Regarding enforcement, the FEMDO reported that between January and October 2026, 121 individuals were brought to trial and 60 convictions were secured, surpassing 2025 totals. On October 16, Recent data indicates a raid significant surge in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, led criminal activity. According to Inegi, federal criminal cases involving fuel theft rose by 207 percent in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching 1,306 reported cases. This surge repositioned hydrocarbon offenses as the detention of two individuals and third most frequent federal crime in Mexico. Additionally, the seizure Energy Citizen Observatory reports that the Ministry of over 100 vehicles, including 71 tankers containing approximately 1.5 Finance has lost 165,437 million liters of diesel, naphtha, pesos due to these activities during the current administration. Enforcement actions remain active. On October 25, authorities investigated a clandestine fuel tap in Acolman and gasoline. More recently, on addressed smuggling investigations in Piedras Negras involving ‘huachicol hormiga,’ a method where hydrocarbons are hidden in cargo trucks. On November 3, the FGR seized approximately 303,000 liters of suspected hydrocarbons and various storage equipment during an operation in Montemorelos, Nuevo León.

Versions

  1. 2026-11-04 20:11 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  2. 2026-11-03 23:26 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  3. 2026-10-31 02:35 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  4. 2026-10-30 04:03 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  5. 2026-10-29 22:24 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  6. 2026-10-27 19:26 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  7. 2026-10-23 01:56 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  8. 2026-10-22 22:34 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  9. 2026-10-22 19:35 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  10. 2026-10-22 17:55 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  11. 2026-10-22 10:14 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  12. 2026-10-22 08:11 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  13. 2026-10-22 01:31 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  14. 2026-10-22 00:05 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  15. 2026-10-21 23:03 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  16. 2026-10-21 19:42 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  17. 2026-10-21 16:11 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  18. 2026-10-19 22:34 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  19. 2026-10-15 23:42 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  20. 2026-10-14 17:08 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  21. 2026-10-07 23:25 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  22. 2026-10-07 15:47 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  23. 2026-10-07 07:03 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  24. 2026-10-05 23:22 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  25. 2026-10-01 23:41 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  26. 2026-09-30 17:34 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  27. 2026-09-29 23:41 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  28. 2026-09-25 19:02 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  29. 2026-09-25 05:53 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  30. 2026-09-24 18:21 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  31. 2026-09-24 17:05 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  32. 2026-09-22 03:40 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  33. 2026-09-21 23:36 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  34. 2026-09-21 18:13 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  35. 2026-09-21 17:58 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  36. 2026-09-21 04:00 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  37. 2026-09-21 01:44 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  38. 2026-09-20 17:26 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  39. 2026-09-20 05:05 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  40. 2026-09-19 02:33 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  41. 2026-09-19 02:32 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  42. 2026-09-18 20:44 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  43. 2026-09-18 18:45 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  44. 2026-09-18 15:30 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  45. 2026-09-18 04:27 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  46. 2026-09-18 02:12 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  47. 2026-09-17 22:32 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations
  48. 2026-09-17 19:55 UTC Mexican authorities combat illegal fuel operations

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