Huachicoleros: Criminal Cartels, Fuel Theft, and Violence in Mexico

Criminal cartels and gangs dominate the illicit economy in Mexico. These organized crime groups challenge the solvency (specifically capacity and legitimacy) of the state in Mexico. Organized crime in Mexico is involved in a range of activities including extortion, drug trafficking, human traffickin...

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Main Authors: Nathan Jones, John Sullivan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Henley-Putnam University 2019-01-01
Series:Journal of Strategic Security
Online Access:https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/jss/vol12/iss4/1
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author Nathan Jones
John Sullivan
author_facet Nathan Jones
John Sullivan
author_sort Nathan Jones
collection DOAJ
description Criminal cartels and gangs dominate the illicit economy in Mexico. These organized crime groups challenge the solvency (specifically capacity and legitimacy) of the state in Mexico. Organized crime in Mexico is involved in a range of activities including extortion, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and petroleum theft. Criminal cartels, often called drug trafficking organizations, have diversified into other illicit activities specifically petroleum theft. This paper provides an overview of the rise of a specialized organized criminal entity: huachicoleros. Huachicoleros specialize in fuel theft and like their narco counterparts use corruption and violence to protect their illicit market. The rise of Cártel de Santa Rosa Lima (CSRL) is discussed as a salient case study. The volatile mix of corruption, violence, and economic instability will be assessed, and government and national oil company (PEMEX) response is discussed. Keywords: Criminal Cartels, Cártel de Santa Rosa de Lima (CSRL), Energy Security, Organized Crime, Petroleum Theft, Fuel Theft, Huachicoleros
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spelling doaj.art-7fc14b51301c4b52863855dd127fc1762022-12-21T18:45:08ZengHenley-Putnam UniversityJournal of Strategic Security1944-04641944-04722019-01-01124124https://doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.12.4.1742Huachicoleros: Criminal Cartels, Fuel Theft, and Violence in MexicoNathan Jones0John Sullivan1Sam Houston State UniversitySenior Fellow, Small Wars Journal-El CentroCriminal cartels and gangs dominate the illicit economy in Mexico. These organized crime groups challenge the solvency (specifically capacity and legitimacy) of the state in Mexico. Organized crime in Mexico is involved in a range of activities including extortion, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and petroleum theft. Criminal cartels, often called drug trafficking organizations, have diversified into other illicit activities specifically petroleum theft. This paper provides an overview of the rise of a specialized organized criminal entity: huachicoleros. Huachicoleros specialize in fuel theft and like their narco counterparts use corruption and violence to protect their illicit market. The rise of Cártel de Santa Rosa Lima (CSRL) is discussed as a salient case study. The volatile mix of corruption, violence, and economic instability will be assessed, and government and national oil company (PEMEX) response is discussed. Keywords: Criminal Cartels, Cártel de Santa Rosa de Lima (CSRL), Energy Security, Organized Crime, Petroleum Theft, Fuel Theft, Huachicoleroshttps://scholarcommons.usf.edu/jss/vol12/iss4/1
spellingShingle Nathan Jones
John Sullivan
Huachicoleros: Criminal Cartels, Fuel Theft, and Violence in Mexico
Journal of Strategic Security
title Huachicoleros: Criminal Cartels, Fuel Theft, and Violence in Mexico
title_full Huachicoleros: Criminal Cartels, Fuel Theft, and Violence in Mexico
title_fullStr Huachicoleros: Criminal Cartels, Fuel Theft, and Violence in Mexico
title_full_unstemmed Huachicoleros: Criminal Cartels, Fuel Theft, and Violence in Mexico
title_short Huachicoleros: Criminal Cartels, Fuel Theft, and Violence in Mexico
title_sort huachicoleros criminal cartels fuel theft and violence in mexico
url https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/jss/vol12/iss4/1
work_keys_str_mv AT nathanjones huachicoleroscriminalcartelsfueltheftandviolenceinmexico
AT johnsullivan huachicoleroscriminalcartelsfueltheftandviolenceinmexico