José Carlos Rodríguez Pueblita, professor of business economics at the IPADE Business School in Mexico City: “Fuel theft and contraband fuel have become one of Mexico’s most pressing organized crime challenges, extending far beyond traditional illicit activities like drug trafficking. While earlier efforts reduced pipeline theft through military deployment and supply monitoring, the problem adapted and shifted into more sophisticated channels, including maritime contraband and tax evasion schemes that cost the Mexican treasury about $24 million per day, according to PetroIntelligence, a Mexican consulting firm specialized in the sector. The September arrests, involving navy officers accused of facilitating untaxed diesel imports, highlight both the depth of the problem and the complexity of addressing it. They show that corruption networks can penetrate even high-trust institutions, but also signal that the current administration is willing to act against such abuses, regardless of the risks to institutional reputation— a contrast with the previous administration. Looking ahead, tackling…”