They dismantle clandestine huachicol plant with half a million liters in Veracruz

They discover an illegal network that threatened the environment and the legal hydrocarbon market in Veracruz.

Publicado 19 junio, 2025 el 19 de junio a las 09:24 | 3 mins reading |3,010 vistas | por Carlos Méndez

Coordinated operation reveals illegal fuel production network

In an unprecedented inter-institutional action, federal authorities dismantled a clandestine plant dedicated to the illicit processing of oil derivatives in the municipality of Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. The discovery, the result of a judicial search carried out on June 18, exposes the sophisticated modalities adopted by the theft of hydrocarbons in Mexico, known colloquially as huachicol.

Methodology of the operation

According to the technical report provided by Omar García Harfuch, Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, the intervention arose after three months of aerial surveillance and field intelligence analysis. Thermal images obtained by drones made it possible to identify anomalous patterns of industrial activity in an apparently inactive rural area. Pemex’s Logistics Coordination and Intelligence Management confirmed through chemical sampling that the site processed crude oil stolen from state pipelines.

The seized infrastructure included:

Storage tanks with capacity for 120,000 liters
An artisanal fractional distillation system
High pressure pumps to reintroduce fuel oil to legal pipelines

Environmental and economic impact

Energy experts consulted highlight that these improvised facilities generate irreversible ecological damage: each liter of artisanal diesel contaminates 15,000 liters of groundwater according to INECC studies. In addition, the Ministry of Finance estimates that the black fuel market represents annual losses of 12,000 million pesos in Veracruz alone.

The seized material – equivalent to the weekly consumption of 25,000 vehicles – showed advanced adulteration techniques:

Mixture of gasoline with industrial solvents
Use of prohibited catalysts to increase volume
Poor filtration of heavy metals

Historical context of huachicol

This case is part of the evolution of organized crime in the energy sector. While in 2015 78% of illicit crimes consisted of direct clandestine taps into pipelines, by 2025 63% involve processing plants such as the one found in Coatzacoalcos, according to CNS data. This mutation reflects the professionalization of criminal networks to evade customs controls.

The authorities are keeping the evidence under guard to integrate the investigation folder FGSPC/2025/Ver-187, which could be linked to 12 similar cases in the Gulf industrial corridor. The Federal Penal Code establishes penalties of up to 25 years for these crimes against collective health and national heritage.

Are you interested in knowing how huachicol affects the family economy? Share this research to raise awareness about the risks of adulterated fuels and discover more analysis in our energy security section.

Cross sources: Technical report SSPC-0025/2025, Pemex 2024 open data, INECC analysis on priority pollutants

National

Sheinbaum details Plan Michoacán: 54 billion and 850 thousand services

Sheinbaum presents progress of the Michoacán Plan with 54 billion in investments and more than 850 thousand services.

Publicado 7 minutes ago el 3 de julio a las 16:58 | 2 mins reading

Sheinbaum heads the evaluation of the Michoacán Plan

President Claudia Sheinbaum led the presentation of progress of the Michoacán Plan for Peace and Justice in Morelia. The federal deployment seeks to consolidate the development of the state hand in hand with the Justice Plan of the P’urhépecha People.

“We are going to continue looking at Michoacán with the objective of advancing peace and justice for the people of Michoacán,” he stressed.

More than 850 thousand services at Wellness Fairs

The Secretary of the Interior, Rosa Icela Rodríguez, reported that from November 19, 2025 to July 2, 2026, 850,679 services and procedures were granted in 68 municipalities, with 77 federal and state agencies.

He also detailed that the Welfare Markets delivered more than 2 million basic necessities to 27,050 families.

Million dollar investment in infrastructure

The global investment is around 54 billion pesos, of which 16 billion correspond to 2026. They are allocated to the conservation and modernization of 411 kilometers of highways, artisanal roads and the “MegaBachetón” program.

In education, the “Rita Cetina”, “Benito Juárez” and “Gertrudis Bocanegra” scholarship programs provide 5.7 billion pesos for 842 thousand students.

In addition, 1,627 million pesos were dispersed in favor of 166,000 agricultural and fishing producers through Production for Wellbeing and Free Fertilizers.

Indigenous development in the P’urhépecha region

The construction of the National Guard barracks in Cherán, the construction of hospitals, credits for artisans and the publication in the Official Gazette of the geographical indication of the avocado to protect its value stand out.

National

Sheinbaum: eradicating extortion in Michoacán is a priority of the Federal Government

Federal government reports 46% drop in homicides in Michoacán; prioritizes combat over extortion.

Publicado 57 minutes ago el 3 de julio a las 16:08 | 2 mins reading

Security strategy in Michoacán

President Claudia Sheinbaum affirmed that the priority objective of the Federal Government in Michoacán is to build peace and completely eradicate extortion. This crime directly affects producers and merchants from various regions of the state.

During the morning conference in the 21st Military Zone of Morelia, Sheinbaum highlighted that the National Security Strategy has achieved a 46% reduction in intentional homicides. The daily average of victims went from 4.32 in January 2025 to 2.33 at the end of June 2026.

Marcela Figueroa Franco, executive secretary of the National Public Security System, explained that June 2026 was positioned as the period with the fewest homicides since 2015. The year-on-year reduction was 43%. In addition, the daily average of high-impact crimes fell from 18.1 cases in 2025 to 17.5 in the sixth month of 2026.

For his part, Omar García Harfuch, Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, explained that the actions are based on four axes: greater territorial deployment, intelligence work to dismantle criminal networks, comprehensive coordination with Michoacan authorities and direct protection of productive chains such as packers and producers of avocado and lemon.

Thanks to this scheme, the arrest of 1,300 people was reported, the seizure of 1,400 firearms and the disabling of 30 clandestine methamphetamine laboratories.

National

Sheinbaum denies failure in T-MEC negotiation

Sheinbaum denies that the T-MEC was poorly negotiated and defends its validity for 10 years.

Publicado 1 hour ago el 3 de julio a las 15:57 | 1 min reading

President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected accusations about an alleged poor negotiation of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (T-MEC). From Morelia, Michoacán, he assured that the agreement remains in force for a decade, with the possibility of extending it for 16 more years.

“There is criticism that they supposedly negotiated poorly with the United States, it is absolutely false… Why is Canada? Even in conditions of even greater disadvantage than the one we have,” he stated.

Sheinbaum explained that protectionism is a vision of the US government, not a Mexican mistake. The treaty contemplates annual reviews because it was signed six years ago; If not renewed for 16 years, reviews will continue.

The president called on national and foreign investors to maintain confidence. “There is certainty to invest in Mexico. The treaty is maintained and there is a good commercial relationship with the United States,” he highlighted.

With these statements, the government seeks to clear up doubts about the future of the agreement and promote a favorable climate for business.