Mexican Navy Strips Admiral of Rank Over Alleged Smuggling Ring

Fernando Farías Laguna, accused of heading a fiscal smuggling network within maritime customs, has been definitively dismissed from the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar). This administrative action strips him of his Rear Admiral rank and the privileges associated with his military status.

Sources close to the case indicated that Semar, under Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles, made the decision to dismiss Farías in April, shortly before he was located in Argentina. Farías is the political nephew of former secretary José Rafael Ojeda Durán. While an administrative resolution, such a dismissal is considered one of the most severe sanctions within the armed forces.

At the time of his apprehension in Argentina, Farías Laguna was reportedly no longer an active member of the Mexican Navy. His permanent discharge occurred independently of the ongoing criminal proceedings against him for organized crime related to hydrocarbon offenses. The Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) has accused him of leading a smuggling ring, "Los Primos," allegedly involving customs agents who altered samples.

Farías is scheduled to appear before a federal judge who will determine if there is sufficient evidence to link him to the charges. This hearing follows Semar's administrative decision in April 2026 to permanently remove him from the institution, resulting in the loss of his rank, the right to wear the naval uniform, and military prerogatives.