Mexico seizes two properties in Jalisco state used for illegal fuel storage

Mexican authorities have seized two properties in Jalisco state, with one suspected of being used for illegal fuel storage. The operation, conducted by the Attorney General's Office (FGR) and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), targeted municipalities of Tlajomulco de Zúñiga and Zapopan.

The investigation began after an anonymous tip reported suspicious fuel transfers and storage at a transport company in Guadalajara. At the first property in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, officials discovered 26 containers, six large tanks, 30 semi-trucks, 21 cylindrical tankers, and various other storage units, many containing fuel or residue.

In addition to fuel storage equipment, the FGR found specialized electrical apparatus for fuel analysis, laptops, and a DVR at the Tlajomulco site. The second property in Zapopan yielded a handgun, 21 laptops, four hard drives, a tablet, 19 USB storage devices, a communication radio, cash, and three vehicles.

This action is part of a broader crackdown on the illicit fuel market, known as "huachicol" in Mexico. This illegal activity, involving the theft and sale of fuel from state-owned Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) pipelines, generates significant losses for the state and profits for criminal groups. Federal authorities have intensified operations in recent years, targeting clandestine taps, storage centers, and vehicles used to transport illegally sourced fuel.