Business · Energy & Commodities · 5 hrs ago
Mexico reports seizing 173.7 million litres of stolen fuel this year
Mexico says it seized 173.7 million litres of stolen fuel so far this year, in a crackdown involving the government, state oil company Pemex and federal prosecutors.
Energy Secretary Luz Elena González said authorities also recovered 1.952 billion litres of fuel that was allegedly due to be brought into the country illegally.
That fuel represents 13.664 billion pesos in unpaid fuel tax, according to the government.
Officials found a separate mismatch of 8.824 billion litres in fuel invoices for 2025, worth 61.7 billion pesos a year.
More than 2,200 companies were closed for selling fuel without permits, and authorities also issued thousands of fines to gas stations.
The government says it is checking fuel imports and records to punish fuel smugglers and prevent further trafficking.
Mexico says it has seized 173.7 million litres of stolen fuel so far this year.
State oil company Pemex has filed more than 10,000 fuel-theft cases with the federal attorney general’s office.
Energy Secretary Luz Elena González said authorities recovered 1.952 billion litres of fuel that was intended to be brought into the country illegally.
The government also reported a 2025 fuel-import billing discrepancy of 8.824 billion litres, valued at 61.7 billion pesos.
Authorities closed 2,224 companies for allegedly selling fuel without a permit.
- Who
- The Mexican government, including President Claudia Sheinbaum and Energy Secretary Luz Elena González.
- What
- Authorities reported seizing 173.7 million litres of stolen fuel so far this year and outlined other measures against fuel smuggling.
- When
- The figures were reported on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The seizure total covers the year to that point.
- Where
- Mexico.
- Why
- To sanction fuel smugglers and prevent fuel contraband from continuing.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The government detected billing discrepancies totalling 8.824 billion litres of fuel.
The government reported that 173.7 million litres of stolen fuel had been seized so far that year.
- Fuel seized
- 173.7 million litres this year
- Cases filed by Pemex
- More than 10,000
- Fuel recovered
- 1.952 billion litres intended for illegal import
- Import discrepancy in 2025
- 8.824 billion litres
- Companies closed
- 2,224 for allegedly selling fuel without a permit
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What people are saying
To be able, first, to sanction those who engaged in fuel smuggling, and second, to prevent it from continuing.