Arrest of Capitán Sol brings new focus to alleged fuel-smuggling network
Original reporting: El País México
What happened
Mexican authorities arrested retired Navy captain Miguel Ángel Solano Ruiz in Jalisco and described him as the last outstanding suspect in the Los Primos case. El País México reported allegations that the network moved at least 564 million liters of fuel disguised as lubricant additives through 69 tankers and four customs points since 2023.
Reporting and context
The arrest of retired Mexican Navy captain Miguel Ángel Solano Ruiz, known as Capitán Sol or Mike, has brought renewed attention to an alleged fuel-smuggling network involving naval personnel, business owners and officials. Solano Ruiz, 48, was arrested Thursday night at a home in Zapopan, Jalisco, after authorities searched for him for about 300 days in Mexico, France, Greece, Monaco and Spain.
The Federal Attorney General’s Office, the Navy and the Secretariat for Citizen Protection described him as the last outstanding suspect to be detained in the organization known as Los Primos, a nickname associated with brothers Fernando and Manuel Farías Laguna. El País México reported that prosecutors allege Solano Ruiz acted as a link between the brothers and high-ranking officials in a scheme that moved at least 564 million liters of fuel disguised as lubricant additives through 69 oil tankers and four customs points since 2023.
Authorities and news investigations have attributed several roles to Solano Ruiz, including communications and the management of alleged bribes. He retired from the Navy in 2018 and reportedly received a monthly pension of between 18,000 and 24,000 pesos. According to research cited by El País México, he spent about 60 million pesos at casinos between 2019 and 2024, spending that investigators have described as potentially connected to money laundering.
Epigmenio Mendieta, the lawyer for the Farías brothers, said the arrest could help identify other businesspeople and officials allegedly involved in the network. He said protected witnesses attribute to Solano Ruiz the organization of personnel, operation of vessels and distribution of funds. Those claims remain part of the reported legal case and the defense’s account.
Solano Ruiz was transferred Friday to the Altiplano prison in the State of Mexico, where the Farías brothers are also held. The next stage of the case is expected to include preparation for trial and a formal accusation. El País México also reported that authorities have not located former Navy Secretary Rafael Ojeda after the courts summoned him to testify at the request of the brothers’ defense.