Notes

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador established controversial reforms to begin combating the crime networks that allow for fuel theft. caused widespread gasoline shortages throughout several states in Mexico, pushing the gasoline industry and huachicoleo to national and international headlines.
what exactly huachicoleo is and why it’s such a big problem today.
As one of the world’s largest oil producers, gasoline and crude oil are essential to the functioning of Mexico’s economy.
powerful cartels try to reduce their dependence on the narcotics trade and seek other forms of income
the practice has been around for decades, it has become especially prevalent in the past 10 years; in 2016
Fuel theft and smuggling is quite common in many developing countries that produce large amounts of oil, and in countries bordering major oil-producing regions.
The President has claimed that corruption within Pemex and the complicity of past administrations has allowed for huachicoleo to become so rampant, demanding urgent change. endorsed by imf
While this strategy might be effective in cutting off criminals’ supply of fuel, however, it also obstructs legal industries in the affected states from accessing the same resources.
the fuel that would normally travel through these pipelines must now be transported using trucks and rail cars, which are to be escorted by national police or military officers. this method has proven inadequate.
As a result of the fuel shortage, many citizens are in a state of crisis, unable to continue normal activities such as work to provide for their families.
Despite the fuel shortages, President López Obrador has defended his initiative, holding that it is necessary in order to dismantle the criminal networks at play behind the practice of huachicoleo.
This radical strategy has fomented considerable anger among the affected populations, and to be unpopular with Mexican cartels, who have historically had a strong relationship with the government.