1.9 Million Litres of Stolen Fuel Seized in Tamaulipas and Coahuila

This article by Ivan Evair Saldaña and Cesar Arellano appeared in the July 28, 2025 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Mexico City. During operations carried out between July 25 and 27 as part of “Operation Northern Border,” Federal Forces seized nearly 1.9 million liters of hydrocarbons in Tamaulipas and Coahuila, in addition to a large arsenal, armored vehicles, and drugs in various northern states, the Security Cabinet reported Monday.

The most significant discovery occurred in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, where 1,802,650 liters of hydrocarbons, nine tractor-trailer trucks, two vehicles, an industrial sweeper, 39 tank trucks, a motorcycle, 12 motor pumps, 39 mobile storage containers, two power generators, and a property were found.

In the same state, but in Crujillas, a person was arrested and a tanker truck loaded with 34,000 liters of the same fuel was confiscated.

In Parras de la Fuente, Coahuila, two illegal taps were shut down and a vehicle containing 25,000 liters of hydrocarbons was seized.

Meanwhile, in General Bravo, Nuevo León, two people were arrested in possession of two Barrett rifles, 11 long guns, four tactical vests, and six vehicles, five of them with homemade armor. In the town of Aramberri, in the same state, three people were arrested with five weapons, 11 magazines, more than 100 cartridges, various drugs (methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana), as well as tactical vests, gram scales, cell phones, and cash.

In the municipality of Cosalá in Sinaloa, authorities dismantled four methamphetamine production sites and seized 4,200 liters of chemical substances, an organic synthesis reactor, and an arsenal that includes two weapons, 31 magazines, 569 cartridges, explosive devices, tire-puncturing equipment, bulletproof vests, and ballistic plates. The operation represented an estimated loss of 86 million pesos for organized crime.

Actions were also reported in Baja California: in Tecate, a person was arrested with 13 kilos of cocaine, methamphetamine, and a vehicle; in Tijuana, weapons, ammunition, and a car were seized after two individuals were located.

In Chihuahua, in Guadalupe y Calvo, two people were arrested with long guns, magazines, cartridges, and vehicles. In the state capital, six people were arrested with weapons, cocaine, communication radios, tactical backpacks, vehicles, and property.

Finally, in Sonora, in San Luis Río Colorado, an individual was arrested with two handguns, magazines, a tractor-trailer, and stolen vehicles. In Cajeme, three people were arrested with methamphetamine, tire-punctured vehicles, and a car reported stolen in the U.S.