The miraculous oasis of legality in the pipelines
In a turn of events that has perplexed skeptics and cynics alike, the Attorney General of the Republic, Alejandro Gertz Manero, has announced to the world what many considered impossible: a total and absolute cessation in the activity of the huachicol fiscal. Yes, you read correctly. In the vast and often uncontrollable national territory, fuel theft has apparently been eradicated from the face of the republic. Or at least, that is what emerges from his appearance at President Claudia Sheinbaum’s morning conference, a scenario where reality sometimes takes on nuances… let’s say, creative.
With the solemnity of someone announcing the discovery of a new subatomic particle, Gertz Manero explained that, after two notorious cases in Altamira and Ensenada, a high-level working group was formed. In this alliance of titans, the Army, the Navy, the Ministry of Security, Customs and all Pemex protection units gathered. A security dream team that, according to its narrative, has achieved what decades of failed strategies could not: silence the pipelines. “From that moment on we have not had a single case,” declared the prosecutor, with a conviction that will undoubtedly make lovers of happy endings sigh. You almost expect him to say “and they lived happily ever after.”
The Pending Orders and the Ghost of Topolobampo
Of course, not everything is rosy in this fiscal fairy tale. There are some small details, those crumbs of reality that refuse to be swept under the rug. It turns out that, in the Altamira case, where the ship was secured by the Mexican Navy and a direct link with the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) was discovered, arrest warrants have yet to be executed. Of the eight issued, only three have been fulfilled. Where will the other five knights be? Perhaps enjoying an unplanned vacation in some tax haven or, ironically, on a beach near a pipeline?
And then there is the mysterious matter of Topolobampo. There appeared a ship loaded with chemical material which, they assure us, “until this moment no sample has been obtained that it is huachicol material.” What a relief. It is comforting to know that a ship with unidentified chemicals lurking around our coasts does not represent, at least officially, a hydrocarbon theft problem. What could go wrong? The imagination, of course, flies towards spy movie scenarios, but the official message is reassuring: it is not huachicol, so… there is nothing to worry about? The effectiveness of inter-institutional coordination appears to be as selective as the menu of a gourmet restaurant.
The level of institutional optimism is almost touching. The prosecutor paints a picture where the mere formation of a committee has acted as a magical shield against one of the most profitable and deep-rooted illicit businesses in the country. One wonders if the same working group has also managed to keep Mexico City’s traffic flowing smoothly or to lower the price of avocados. Faith in the power of workplace meetings is undoubtedly moving. Meanwhile, national statistics on illegal fuel extraction, and the cartels that control them, must be eagerly awaiting the next press report to adjust their business models to this radical new reality.
In the grand theater of national security, this announcement is a fascinating act. On the one hand, a historic result is announced, an unprecedented victory. On the other hand, there are passing mentions of unfulfilled arrest warrants and links to organized crime that suggest that the problem is far from being resolved. It’s the classic “mission accomplished” before the mission is over. The final message is clear: let’s celebrate the calm, even if storm clouds loom on the horizon… or smoke from stolen fuel.
Are you surprised by this news? Share this scathing analysis on your social networks and make your audience also reflect on the paradoxes of official information. Explore more content related to national security and politics on our site.
