Mexican authorities discovered a 22-meter clandestine tunnel in Hidalgo that tapped a Pemex pipeline, exposing two illegal taps and the seizure of drugs at the scene. Reuters matched the site to the Pemex line between the Tula and Salamanca refineries; no arrests have been reported. Pemex logged 11,774 illegal taps in 2024 and says anti-theft efforts have not achieved sustained gains. The incident highlights the violent, cartel-linked huachicol trade and the severe safety risks it poses.
22-Meter Secret Tunnel Found Tapping Pemex Pipeline — A Stark Glimpse Into Mexico’s Huachicol Crisis
A drone view shows a property seized by authorities, where the authorities say they discovered a sophisticated tunnel used for large‑scale fuel theft from Mexico's state energy company Pemex and for storing drugs, in Sayula, Mexico, February 18, 2026. REUTERS/Luis Cortes
Mexican security forces this week uncovered a 22-meter (72-foot) clandestine tunnel dug from private land to tap a state-owned oil pipeline, underscoring the persistent and dangerous trade in stolen fuel known as huachicol.
A drone view shows a property seized by authorities, where the authorities say they discovered a sophisticated tunnel used for large‑scale fuel theft from Mexico's state energy company Pemex and for storing drugs, in Sayula, Mexico, February 18, 2026. REUTERS/Luis Cortes
The tunnel, discovered outside a residence in rural Hidalgo state near Tepetitlán and the small settlement of Sayula, led directly to two illegal taps on an underground conduit, the Hidalgo state attorney’s office said. Authorities also reported seizing illicit drugs at the site. Officials have not publicly named any suspects and a source familiar with the operation said there were no arrests so far.
A drone view shows a property seized by authorities, where the authorities say they discovered a sophisticated tunnel used for large‑scale fuel theft from Mexico's state energy company Pemex and for storing drugs, in Sayula, Mexico, February 18, 2026. REUTERS/Luis Cortes
Reuters matched the site coordinates to an energy ministry map of hydrocarbon infrastructure and identified the line as the Pemex-owned pipeline that runs from the Tula refinery in Hidalgo to the Salamanca refinery in Guanajuato.
A drone view shows a property seized by authorities, where the authorities say they discovered a sophisticated tunnel used for large‑scale fuel theft from Mexico's state energy company Pemex and for storing drugs, in Sayula, Mexico, February 18, 2026. REUTERS/Luis Cortes
How The Theft Works
Thieves typically dig long tunnels from private property toward pipelines, installing engineered taps that siphon fuel without triggering pressure drops large enough for Pemex monitoring systems to detect. Stolen gasoline, diesel and other products are commonly resold locally in glass bottles or plastic canisters at deep discounts.
A drone view shows a property seized by authorities, where the authorities say they discovered a sophisticated tunnel used for large‑scale fuel theft from Mexico's state energy company Pemex and for storing drugs, in Sayula, Mexico, February 18, 2026. REUTERS/Luis Cortes
Scale, Risks And Response
Pemex reported 11,774 illegal taps on its pipelines in 2024 and warned in a U.S. regulatory filing that anti-theft measures "have not produced sustained improvement in recent years." When Reuters reporters visited the site on Wednesday, soldiers and National Guard personnel guarded the property and a banner declaring the land seized had been posted.
Dangerous Business: The fuels involved are highly flammable. Past incidents linked to suspected fuel theft have caused catastrophic accidents, including a 2019 explosion that killed at least 137 people.
Huachicol began as local gang activity but has evolved into a violent, multibillion-dollar industry frequently controlled by powerful cartels. Authorities face an ongoing challenge: dismantling the sophisticated networks and engineering that allow large-scale theft while protecting communities at risk of explosions, fires and environmental damage.
Reporting by Stefanie Eschenbacher; editing by Daina Beth Solomon and Cynthia Osterman.
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