Mexican authorities have uncovered a 22-metre tunnel used to siphon fuel from a state-owned pipeline, shedding light on the country’s long-running battle against a lucrative black-market trade often controlled by organised crime.
The tunnel was discovered outside a home in rural Hidalgo state near the town of Tepetitlan. It connected to two illegal taps on an underground pipeline, the Hidalgo state attorney’s office said in a statement on Tuesday. Security forces also seized drugs at the property.
Officials declined to provide further details, and no arrests have been made so far, according to a source familiar with the operation who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Although authorities did not name the pipeline involved, Reuters matched the site’s coordinates to an energy ministry map identifying it as a conduit owned by state energy company Pemex. The pipeline runs between the Tula refinery in Hidalgo and the Salamanca refinery in Guanajuato state.
When Reuters journalists visited the site near the rural settlement of Sayula on Wednesday, Army and National Guard personnel were guarding the property. A banner reading “property seized” had been posted at the entrance.
Fuel theft, known in Mexico as huachicol, has evolved from a practice carried out by small local gangs into a violent, multi-billion-dollar criminal enterprise dominated by powerful cartels. The theft can involve petrol, diesel, crude oil and other refined products.
Pemex did not respond to a request for comment. The company reported discovering 11,774 illegal taps on its pipelines in 2024. In a regulatory filing in the United States last year, Pemex acknowledged that efforts to curb the black-market trade “have not produced sustained improvement in recent years”.
Fuel thieves often construct lengthy tunnels from private land to reach pipelines, using sophisticated engineering to siphon fuel without triggering pressure drops that could alert authorities. The stolen fuel is typically sold locally at prices well below those at filling stations.
The practice carries significant risks. In 2019, an explosion linked to suspected fuel theft killed at least 137 people, highlighting the deadly consequences of the illicit trade.
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Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Iran and the U.S. exchanged threats on Tuesday, as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Tehran to expect the “most intense day" of attacks so far. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said “anyone who entertains the illusion of destroying Iran knows nothing of history."
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Tehran has threatened to block the strategic waterway, raising fears of disruption to global oil shipments and energy markets.
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientific data, national hydrometeorological services in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan say, adding there is no threat to the region.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has addressed the U.N. Security Council, saying the world must consider how effective its engagement with the Taliban-run country is as millions face hunger.
British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting instead to give ministers flexible powers to impose restrictions on platforms.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 10th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump called his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very good.” The two leaders spoke on Monday about the situation in Iran and other international issues.
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