Official reports from the United States have warned of a new criminal organization dedicated to stealing hydrocarbons for sale in that country, in collaboration with Mexican cartels, including the CJNG, the Sinaloa Cartel, La Familia Michoacana, and the Gulf Cartel.
Although the name of the new organization, its origin, or the main states in which it operates have not yet been identified, security reports indicated that its operations cause millions of dollars in tax and profit losses to companies such as Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), the US government, and companies in both countries dedicated to the import and export of crude oil.
“This investigation has uncovered that Transnational Criminal Organizations are obtaining or stealing, and then trafficking, crude oil from Pemex to the United States for sale to US oil and gas companies, in a sophisticated system of laundering money from trade,” a US report detailed.
As a result, the United States government launched an operation called “Top Fuel,” also known as “Liquid Death,” which aims to combat the aforementioned cartels and further investigate the new criminal organization. The U.S. government also indicated that it would simultaneously combat methamphetamine and heroin trafficking across the Mexico-Texas border.
Recent data from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA) indicates that the hydrocarbon theft business has become one of the main avenues for illicitly obtaining resources while affecting the government.
“It is estimated that Mexico is losing tens of billions of pesos in taxes annually, and simultaneously this is costing U.S. crude oil companies billions of dollars annually due to a drop in oil imports and exports during the same period,” the report highlighted.
Finally, the statement stated that the operation will also target U.S. companies involved in crude oil purchases.
Such was the case with the gas companies Etanofuel and Energy, companies that acquired hydrocarbons stolen by the CJNG directly from Pemex pipelines. The operation became known after the arrest of Iván Cazarín Molina, alias “El Tanque,” a CJNG operator in Jalisco and Veracruz, who led the operation.
In this regard, the Jensen family, who participated in the acquisition of the stolen hydrocarbons, was accused of smuggling oil stolen by criminal groups in Mexico and sold in the United States.
“The focus will also be on the US companies and members involved in facilitating this illicit Mexican oil trafficking operation.
The crude oil used by the Jensen family was acquired from companies that operated solely through the authorization of Mexican criminal organizations,” stated the DEA and the US Attorney’s Office.
Progress in the Fight Against Fentanyl and the Combat Against “Narcoterrorist” Groups
In the recent release of the 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment, the DEA reported that overdose deaths have decreased significantly. However, the report asserted that drug purity has decreased due to the fight against drug trafficking, which can cause significant and unknown health damage due to the use of medications, tranquilizers, and substances that are still being studied by the United States.
“This year’s report indicates progress in the fight against fentanyl and also describes the growing challenges we face in the face of the evolving landscape of the synthetic drug crisis. The adulteration of fentanyl with highly potent and dangerous chemicals reminds us that this fight is far from over,” stated DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy.
Source: infobae
