Illegal Refinery Shut Down in Veracruz, 500,000L Seized

An illegal fuel processing facility in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, was shut down following a joint operation involving the Ministry of Defense (SEDENA), the Navy (SEMAR), the Attorney General’s Office (FGR), The National Guard (GN), the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection (SSPC), PEMEX, and the Ministry of Energy (SENER).

The property, which lacked the necessary permits to operate, was functioning as a makeshift refinery equipped with fuel separation machinery and a network of pipelines, all without adhering to basic safety regulations, posing a significant risk to nearby communities.

Authorities had been tracking the site as part of an ongoing investigation into the illicit handling of hydrocarbons. Initially registered as an industrial waste treatment plant, the facility had been repurposed to process crude oil without oversight. Surveillance operations, including aerial reconnaissance, confirmed its illegal use.

A judge granted a search warrant after investigators presented sufficient evidence, leading to a coordinated raid in which security forces seized 500,000L of crude oil, seven high-capacity mobile tanks, four vertical tanks, and various pieces of infrastructure used to refine fuel. The facility was sealed off and placed under police custody, while the Public Prosecutor's Office continues its investigation.

Authorities said the action underscores the federal government’s commitment to curbing illegal fuel production and trade in Mexico through interagency coordination and intelligence-led operations.