The Attorney General’s Office (FGR) has arrested former Baja California Governor Ernesto Ruffo Appel for his alleged responsibility in the crimes of organized crime and smuggling.
According to the agency, the arrest is the result of a highly complex investigation into large-scale fuel smuggling operations allegedly carried out by a company founded by Ruffo.
Where Was Ernesto Ruffo Arrested?
The FGR stated that it obtained an arrest warrant for the alleged offenses, which was executed on the afternoon of Thursday, July 16, in Ensenada, Baja California.
Why Was Ruffo Appel Being Investigated?
The former governor was under investigation by federal authorities for his alleged involvement as the majority shareholder of the company Ingemar.
The company was linked to the seizure of 15 million liters of hydrocarbons transported in 129 rail tank cars in Coahuila, in a case allegedly related to fuel tax smuggling (huachicol fiscal).
Ruffo Appel has publicly stated that his company is only responsible for import logistics and customs paperwork at the border.
Ruffo’s Daughter and Héctor Osuna Arrive at the FGR
Verónica Ruffo Sánchez, daughter of former Governor Ernesto Ruffo Appel, arrived at the offices of the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) after her father’s arrest during the federal operation related to the alleged fuel tax smuggling investigation.
She entered the building immediately and declined to comment extensively on the case.
Before entering, she said only that she was unaware of her father’s legal situation and would wait to learn what happens in the coming hours.
Former senator Héctor Osuna Jaime, who also served as mayor of Tijuana and president of the former Federal Telecommunications Commission (Cofetel) during the administrations of Vicente Fox and Felipe Calderón, also arrived at the FGR offices.
Osuna criticized the manner in which Ruffo Appel was arrested, stating that “this is not the way a former governor of Baja California should be treated” and adding that “he does not deserve such undignified treatment.”
The former legislator also claimed that the arrest was part of a political strategy by the federal government, alleging that it was intended to divert public attention from accusations regarding alleged links between members of the current government and organized crime. He did not provide evidence to support those claims.
Who Is Ernesto Ruffo?
Ernesto Ruffo Appel became Mexico’s first opposition governor after winning the 1989 Baja California gubernatorial election as the candidate of the National Action Party (PAN), marking the beginning of political alternation in the country.
His name had already been linked to the fuel tax smuggling (huachicol fiscal) investigation because of his connection to Ingemar, a company involved in fuel import operations.
In July 2025, Omar García Harfuch, Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, confirmed that the company was part of ongoing federal investigations.
At the time, Ruffo denied any involvement in illegal activities, saying he had “a clear conscience,” that authorities had not summoned him, and that he was willing to cooperate fully with the investigation. He also stated that the company operated within the law and would provide any information requested.
MILENIO confirmed that Ernesto Ruffo Appel serves on the Citizen Advisory Council of the new political party Somos México.
What Is Known About Ruffo’s Company?
Ingemar is also under investigation in connection with a fuel smuggling network allegedly involving Raúl Rocha Cantú, the former owner of the Miss Universe organization, in an operation authorities say had been active since at least 2024.
During a search of a property known as La Espuela, a railway terminal for tank cars in Querétaro, investigators found documents related to fuel imports from the United States into Mexico.
Among the records were documents identifying operations involving the companies Atlas, Ingemar, and Ferropolymer.
The property is considered one of the storage centers allegedly linked to Rocha Cantú’s network, which authorities say was directed by Jacobo Reyes León, former Director of Citizen Security and Public Security Commissioner of Acolman, State of Mexico, and a former mayoral candidate in San Martín de las Pirámides.
Authorities identified Raúl Rocha Cantú as an individual who allegedly financed the importation of fuel from Guatemala and the United States. According to the FGR, the network generated profits of approximately 2.50 pesos per liter of illegally imported fuel sold in Mexico.
Investigations by both the Mexican and U.S. governments indicate that the fuel tax smuggling scheme operates through a large criminal network on both sides of the border.
According to investigators, the process begins in Mexico, where criminal organizations steal crude oil, primarily by illegally tapping Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) pipelines.
The crude oil is then transported to the United States, where it is refined into gasoline and diesel before being returned to Mexico by land or through tanker ships arriving at ports such as Tampico, Tamaulipas.
Authorities allege that the network relies on corrupt customs officials who facilitate the entry of fuel shipments by issuing false documentation regarding their contents.
Once inside Mexico, the fuel is stored and later distributed to gas stations and fuel companies for retail sale. According to the FGR, shell companies allegedly issued fraudulent invoices to conceal the illegal nature of the operations.
Source: milenio
