Suspected illegal fuel site secured in El Hongo
Original reporting: ZETA Tijuana
What happened
ZETA Tijuana reports that state police and soldiers guarded an El Hongo property after confirming fuel in containers on November 5. Federal prosecutors were notified to arrange authorization for entry and further investigation.
Reporting and context
State police and soldiers secured a property suspected of being used for illegal fuel storage in Tecate’s Luis Echeverría neighborhood, also known as El Hongo, according to ZETA Tijuana. Authorities confirmed the presence of fuel at 2:50 p.m. on November 5, 2026.
Members of the “Unidos Por Tecate” operation approached the property after seeing containers holding fuel and a transparent hose. The State Citizen Security Force (FESC) and Defense Ministry personnel suspected activity involving the illegal extraction and storage of fuel, the report said.
ZETA Tijuana reported that officers saw eight containers: six yellow vessels with a capacity of 20 liters each and two blue drums with a capacity of 200 liters each. Those figures describe container capacity; the account does not specify the total volume of fuel present. Officers confirmed fuel in one container that had no lid.
Authorities guarded the site and notified the federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) to request the authorization needed to enter the property and continue investigating.
The outlet reported that authorities identify the Luis Echeverría area as a significant base for criminal groups involved in illegal fuel extraction, storage and sales, as well as human smuggling and arms trafficking. That broader assessment provides the official context for the operation; the report does not identify a particular group at this property.
Original publication: https://zetatijuana.com/2026/11/aseguran-casa-con-huachicol-en-el-hongo-tecate