HUACHICOL ARRESTS EXTEND TO MATAMOROS, REYNOSA, LAREDO

This past March 31 the oil tanker Challenge Procyon, sailing under a Singapore flag, was seized carrying 10 million liters of illegal fuel in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Its captain, Abraham Jeremías Pérez Ramírez, reportedly committed suicide Monday, September 8. Courtesy Photo

By Antonio Lopez Cuz

El Universal

Mexico's National Customs Agency and the Attorney General's Office (FGR) have filed for more than 200 arrest warrant requests against customs agents, administrators, deputy administrators, and operational staff at various customs offices across the country for their alleged involvement in the crime of huachicol (illegal fuel) fiscal (tax huachicol), which has allowed fuel smuggling from various parts of the world into Mexico for several years.

The customs employees who will be prosecuted are not only civilians but also military personnel, as well as businesspeople, including the former governor of Baja California and member of the National Action Party (PAN), Ernesto Ruffo Appel.

According to federal sources close to EL UNIVERSAL, the arrest warrants began being filed on August 1, 2025, through the Attorney General's Office (FGR) and local prosecutors' offices before judges across the country.

Some of the requests have already been issued, and others will be granted by judges in the coming months, although due to the confidentiality of the investigation, not all will be announced publicly.

This past July 7, local and federal authorities seized 15 million liters of illegal fuel in Coahuila. Courtesy Photo

On August 14, El Gran Diario de México reported on the progress of this mega-operation to combat fuel theft at the highest level, detailing that, to date, personnel at the customs offices of Ciudad Juárez, Matamoros, Reynosa, Nuevo Laredo, Tampico, and Ensenada had been dismissed from their duties, in addition to the suspension of two customs agents for alleged collusion in gasoline smuggling.

Also, this Sunday, the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, announced the arrest of 14 people linked to fuel smuggling following the massive seizure of 20 million liters of diesel in Tampico, Tamaulipas, last March.

At a press conference, the federal official confirmed the arrest of three businessmen, five active and one retired marine, as well as five former customs officials.

According to information obtained by El Gran Diario de México, warrants will be issued next week against legal entities also involved in fuel theft.

Of particular note is an arrest warrant against the former governor of Baja California and PAN member, Ernesto Guillermo Ruffo Appel, who serves as the majority shareholder of the company Ingemar, S.A. de C.V., involved in the massive seizure of 15 million liters of fuel theft in Coahuila on July 7.

To read the rest of the article (Spanish), click on link:   https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/nacion/solicitan-200-ordenes-de-aprehension-por-huachicol-van-por-agentes-aduanales-y-militares/