Mexican authorities have launched an investigation into customs offices nationwide over allegations that imported fuel was being misdeclared as lubricants, according to official documents released last week. The inquiry reportedly involves senior naval officers, public officials, and private-sector actors, El País reported.
Officials said the network has been operating since at least 2020, moving 69 shipments and generating more than 3 billion pesos ($150 million) in illicit profits. Lubricants are not subject to Mexico’s Special Tax on Production and Services, and imports have increased sharply, from roughly 3 billion liters in 2019–2020 to more than 32.9 billion liters in 2021–2022.
In Ciudad Reynosa, imports declared as lubricants jumped from 81 million liters to 1.9 billion liters in a single year, much of it originating from refineries in Houston. Investigators said operations were centered in Tampico but extended to Veracruz, Tabasco, Baja California, and other states.
Authorities have flagged ongoing risks, noting that the use of lubricant imports to circumvent fuel taxes remains a concern, particularly at land customs posts where oversight is less stringent.