Morena deputy seeks tighter checks on fuel imports

Reporting and context

Morena deputy Alfonso Ramírez Cuéllar has proposed tighter scrutiny of public contractors and fuel imports, saying Mexico's existing measures against false invoicing and fuel-related tax evasion are insufficient, Luces del Siglo reported.

The vice-coordinator of Morena's caucus in the Chamber of Deputies put forward two initiatives to establish responsibility when public funds are diverted through companies. He argued that networks of complicity have allowed these practices to spread and called for stronger prevention, investigation and penalties.

For public contractors, Ramírez Cuéllar proposed monitoring suppliers throughout their contracts. He also wants checks when companies are formed to establish whether they have real financial capacity, verify where their capital comes from and flag unusual tax behavior.

On fuel imports, the deputy called for administrative measures when the volume declared at customs differs substantially from the amount ultimately sold. According to Luces del Siglo, he also proposed better information sharing between authorities, action against informal fuel sales and seizure of assets tied to illicit activity.

Ramírez Cuéllar said the aim is to improve tax collection by addressing evasion, smuggling and sham transactions, rather than placing new taxes on people already meeting their obligations. The report describes proposals for stronger controls; it does not report their passage into law.