New Mexico Authorities released a statement stating that they found dead bodies of nine men in vehicles on January 9. This incident took place near a fuel pipeline. Investigation is ongoing. The Police believe that Fuel theft may have been a cause. In Mexico, gangs often steal gasoline, diesel and natural gas from government-pipelines. Angel Rangel Nieves, the Police-Chief of San Juan del Rio City in the Central State of Queretaro said that the bodies were found in two-vehicles. The license plate of one of the vehicle belonged to the neighbouring state of Hidalgo, one of the Fuel-Theft centres.
One of the major goals of the President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is to fight Fuel-Theft. Several troops have been strategically disposed to protect Government-Pipelines and prevent Fuel-Theft yet several illegal taps are found to this day. The Government has reduced the sale of stolen fuel by conducting thorough research. Stolen-Fuel is usually found on roadside or sold through licensed Gas-Stations. As of 2022, the loss incurred due to Fuel-Theft by Petroleos Mexicanos, a state-owned oil company is over $1.1Billion.
The Fuel-Theft has also impacted the United States Of America. A cartel gunman allegedly forced gas tanker trucks to dump their loads. The U.S Trade Representative was informed about the same by a Brownsville Democrat, Vicente Gonzalez. On January 18, 2019 an explosion occurred at an illegally tapped pipeline in Hidalgo which killed about 134 People. This happened in Tlahuelilpan. Unfortunately, these incidents are orchestrated for selfish reasons and the local residents land victims to it. Open traps pose as a health-hazard to the people living in the locality and also impose an ill-effect on the environment.
Despite Government’s efforts to put a stop to these activities, it is a slow process. In 2023, the number of legal taps found throughout the nation were 5,600. Although this figure is less than the number of legal taps found in the year 2022, it is approximately the same number of legal taps identified in 2018. Will the Government be able to further reduce such petty crimes? Will the Government implement firmer laws to prevent this? What activities are being performed to provide aid to the families of the dead? What is being done to protect the environment?.
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