Mexican opposition parties are turning up the pressure on Rafael Ojeda, who served as Secretary of the Navy under former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, accusing him of being the “missing link” in the country’s so-called “fiscal huachicol” scandal.
The term “huachicol,” traditionally used for illegal fuel theft from pipelines, has come to describe a newer scheme in which importers allegedly falsified paperwork to bring fuel into Mexico while evading taxes, costing the government billions of pesos in lost revenue. Because customs operations at Mexican ports were placed under Navy oversight starting in 2021, critics argue that top military officials—including Ojeda—should be scrutinized as the investigation widens.
Members of the PRI and other opposition parties argue that while several officials and businesspeople have already been implicated or detained, the probe has stopped short of examining Ojeda’s role despite his having overseen the ports during the period in question. They contend that without addressing his responsibility, the case cannot be considered complete.
The controversy adds to mounting political tension over accountability for corruption tied to fuel trafficking, an issue that has plagued Mexican administrations for years and drained public coffers.
For the full story and additional details, read the original report at informador.mx.
Source: Ojeda es el 'eslabón perdido' del huachicol fiscal: oposición critica al exsecretario (informador.mx).
Image: CBP Photography.