Oil Theft Ring Toppled, But Mexican Cartel Threat Lingers Over State Petroleum Company Rafael Castillo - VICE News
go to original August 8, 2014

Mexican Oil and Drug Cartels: Cocaine & Crude - (Vice)

Mexico has taken down a criminal ring dedicated to stealing oil from its state petroleum monopoly Pemex, authorities said this week, part of efforts to clamp down on out-of-control oil thefts that have grown exponentially in recent years during the country's drug war.

The federal attorney general’s office said five people were arrested in connection with a cell of oil thieves, after 14 search warrants were served in three regions of the country. Authorities seized ten properties, at least $20,000 dollars, and numerous tractors, trailers, firearms, luxury vehicles, and jewels.

Officials said the group operated in the states of Jalisco in western Mexico, Queretaro in central Mexico, and Mexico City. But authorities did not name those who were detained, or reveal any possible cartel links that the suspects might have.

The relative lack of information on the criminal group is perhaps a sign that Mexico is far from effectively tackling mass-scale oil thefts, even as Pemex appears poised to finally be opened up to direct private investment from foreign companies with controversial constitutional reforms set to go into effect.

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