Mexican authorities have shut down four illegal oil refineries and seized nearly one million litres of petroleum products in a major anti-smuggling operation.
MEXICO CITY: Mexican authorities have dealt another blow to organised crime after uncovering four illegal oil refineries operating across the country.
Officials said the clandestine facilities were found in the central states of San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo and Morelos, where they were processing stolen petroleum products.
During the operation, authorities seized almost one million litres of petroleum derivatives, equivalent to around 6,300 barrels.
The discovery highlights the growing challenge Mexico faces in tackling fuel theft, a crime that has become a major source of income for organised criminal groups.
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For years, gangs have been illegally tapping pipelines and stealing hydrocarbons from Pemex, Mexico’s partially state-owned oil company. The stolen fuel is then processed and sold on the black market, costing the company hundreds of millions of dollars every year.
And the problem is getting worse.
According to official figures, fuel smuggling cost Pemex around US$530 million during the first half of 2026, marking a 20% increase compared with the same period last year.
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Authorities have stepped up efforts to crack down on illegal fuel operations, targeting both pipeline theft and the hidden facilities used to process stolen oil.
Officials have not yet announced whether any arrests were made during the latest raids, but investigations are continuing as authorities work to identify those behind the illegal refineries.
The latest operation forms part of Mexico’s wider campaign to curb fuel theft, protect critical energy infrastructure and disrupt the criminal networks profiting from the country’s oil industry.
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