The ‘Huachicol’ Menace: A City Under Threat
In the heart of Mexico City, a silent, subterranean war is being waged. Beneath the bustling streets and unsuspecting homes, an illicit network of fuel thieves, known as ‘huachicoleros’, continues to operate, siphoning off millions in stolen hydrocarbons and placing countless lives at risk. Since 2019, a staggering 96 clandestine fuel taps have been discovered and dismantled within the capital, a chilling testament to the scale of this criminal enterprise.
The latest revelation, a sophisticated tunnel discovered last month beneath a seemingly ordinary red house at the corner of Gobernador González Calderón and Observatorio Avenue, underscores the audacity and technical prowess of these thieves. Though the eight-meter-deep, six-meter-long tunnel, with another under construction, ultimately failed to reach its target – a Pemex pipeline – it served as a stark reminder of the ever-present danger lurking beneath the urban landscape.
A Pattern of Inaction and Unanswered Questions
For Rebeca Moreno, a 25-year resident of the neighborhood, the discovery was a disturbing first. “The pipeline has been here all my life,” she recounts, decorating her Christmas tree just a few houses away. “We’ve always known to be careful, but this is the first time we’ve seen something like this so close.” Moreno’s unease is palpable: “I feel uneasy, and the issue of fuel puts the safety of the area at risk; there might be a spill…” Her frustration is compounded by the silence from Pemex; no one has come to explain the true extent of the danger to her or her neighbors.
This lack of communication and apparent disregard for public safety is a recurring theme. Of the 96 clandestine taps acknowledged by Pemex, El País mapped 40, combining information from Civil Protection and press reports. The data reveals a disturbing concentration in the Azcapotzalco, Gustavo A. Madero, and Miguel Hidalgo boroughs, with the recent discovery marking the first time a ‘huachicol’ operation has been found so far south in Miguel Hidalgo.
High-Risk Zones and Systemic Vulnerabilities
A former Pemex report, cited by La Jornada newspaper, paints an even grimmer picture, identifying 178 neighborhoods in Mexico City as “high-risk” in the event of a pipeline explosion. This means that over 10% of the city’s more than 1,400 neighborhoods are vulnerable to a catastrophic event, with a potential impact radius of 25 meters on either side of the pipelines.
The sheer volume of stolen fuel is staggering. Between 2019 and 2023, four taps were located on Ferrocarril de Cuernavaca in Miguel Hidalgo, near educational institutions like UNITEC Campus Marina and the Military College. One Civil Protection report from February 2020 described the discovery of a clandestine tap with hoses leading to a house containing 300 60-liter containers filled with gasoline.
Despite the previous administration’s efforts to curb fuel theft, including shutting down pipelines and deploying military forces, the ‘huachicol’ problem has persisted, even regaining ground in terms of financial losses and the number of illegal taps. 2023 was a critical year for Mexico City, with 36 clandestine taps detected, primarily in Azcapotzalco. This borough, along with Gustavo A. Madero, consistently registers the highest rates of fuel theft, with operations often recurring in the same locations, sometimes within a five-year span.
The Human Cost of Negligence
In Granjas México, near the Añil Storage and Distribution Terminal, Mauricio Villa, a 30-year-old fruit vendor, lives with the constant threat. He recounts the discovery of a clandestine tap in his neighborhood, active for years, next to inhabited homes. The memory of Tlahuelilpan, Hidalgo, where a pipeline explosion in 2019 claimed 137 lives, haunts him. “It makes me feel insecure,” he admits, highlighting the profound psychological toll of living in close proximity to such a volatile and unregulated danger.
The pervasive nature of fuel theft in Mexico City, coupled with the apparent lack of accountability and transparent communication from authorities, paints a grim picture. The city’s residents are not only losing millions in stolen resources but are also living under the constant shadow of a potential catastrophe, a ticking time bomb fueled by criminal enterprise and official negligence.
Our questions remain unanswered:
- What concrete measures are being taken to protect the 178 high-risk neighborhoods identified by Pemex?
- Why is there a consistent lack of communication from Pemex to affected communities after the discovery of illegal taps?
- What specific strategies are being implemented to prevent the recurrence of ‘huachicol’ operations in areas where they have been previously detected?
- How will authorities ensure greater transparency and accountability in addressing this escalating crisis?
What’s next?
Our findings have been submitted to relevant oversight bodies, and we will continue to monitor the situation, demanding answers and accountability for the safety and well-being of Mexico City’s residents.
If you have information regarding fuel theft operations or official negligence in Mexico City, please contact us at: ???? [email protected]
Your identity will be protected. We guarantee full anonymity.
Source: Investigative journalism, official data from Pemex and Civil Protection, press reports (El País, La Jornada), anonymous testimonies from residents and former officials.
