Federal authorities searched on Wednesday a property in the city of Coatzacoalcos, which operated as a clandestine refinery, and recovered more than 500,000 liters of oil.
The operation was the result of field intelligence, air surveillance and land recognition, as they specified in a statement, and as part of a joint action of the Federal Security Cabinet with the Ministry of Energy (Sener) and the state Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex).
On the site, the authorities identified a plant for the treatment of industrial waste, converted to illegally process hydrocarbons such as artisanal diesel, light naphtha, solvents and combustum, without permits and with high environmental risk.
On the part of the Security Forces, the intervention was coordinated by agents of the Ministry of National Defense (Sedena), Secretary of the Navy (Semar), National Guard (GN), Attorney General’s Office (FGR), and the Ministry of Citizen Security and Protection (SSPC).
Lee: Pemex owes more than 7 billion pesos to construction companies and some could break, denounces the CMIC
According to the note, it was “a complex used as a small -scale refinery that had specialized equipment, pipes and storage tanks, without complying with current safety standards.”
The evidence collected were enough for a control judge to grant the search order.
During the deployment seven large capacity mobile tanks, four vertical tanks, specialized infrastructure for the separation and transfer of hydrocarbons were secured, as well as approximately 500,000 liters of crude oil, equivalent to about 25 million pesos (almost 1.25 million dollars).
The property was under police protection and the Public Ministry was notified, who will continue with the proceedings and integration of the corresponding investigation folder.
It was not reported on people arrested during search.
The operation reinforces the strategy of the Government of Mexico against the theft and illegal processing of hydrocarbons, a practice that has generated millionaire losses for the treasury and damage to sensitive ecosystems.
Lee: Service providers warn unemployment in the oil sector in July by Pemex debts
According to the state oil company between 2019 and 2024, the illegal subtraction of fuels has cost Pemex more than 75,710 million pesos (almost 3,786 million dollars) and only in the first quarter of the year this figure amounted to 5,471 million pesos (about 274 million dollars).
According to data from the National Organization of Petroleum Expendors (OnexPO), the illegal fuel found in the Mexican market is around 30%.
With EFE information
Do you like to inform yourself for Google News? Follow our showcase to have the best stories
