San Juan del Rio, Queretaro – In central Mexico a grim discovery was made on Tuesday. Police found the lifeless bodies of nine men in vehicles near a fuel pipeline. While the circumstances surrounding their deaths are still under investigation, it is believed that fuel theft may have played a role. According to reports gangs in Mexico have been known to steal gasoline, diesel, and natural gas from government pipelines, posing a significant challenge for the country.
San Juan del Rio’s Police Chief, Ángel Rangel Nieves, revealed that the bodies were located in two vehicles near the pipeline, located north of Mexico City. The license plates on the vehicles revealed they were from neighboring Hidalgo state, which is considered one of the main hotspots for fuel theft.
Fuel theft in Mexico has not only local implications but also impacts neighboring countries like the United States. Incidents of cartel gunmen coercing gas tanker trucks to unload their cargo in border towns underscore the far-reaching consequences of this criminal activity. The prevalence of illegal taps and the violence it engenders necessitate a comprehensive strategy to curb fuel theft and safeguard both lives and economies.
As investigations into these recent deaths continue, authorities seek to understand what drove these men to meet such tragic ends near a fuel pipeline.