Six men face proceedings in alleged fuel theft case in Colima

Reporting and context

AF Medios reports that federal prosecutors in Colima obtained an order sending six men to criminal proceedings over alleged fuel theft in Manzanillo. The outlet identifies Leonel “N,” Joel “N,” Fernando “N” and Armando “N” as suspects in the alleged illicit extraction of hydrocarbons, while Víctor “N” and José “N” face an alleged illicit-possession charge. AF Medios says the charges are covered by Mexico’s law governing offenses involving hydrocarbons.

According to the report, state preventive police arrested the six men on Aug. 12 in the Tapeixtles neighborhood of Manzanillo. The arrests allegedly took place while the men were removing fuel from a Pemex pipeline. Prosecutors from the Federal Prosecutor’s Office’s regional control unit then obtained a search warrant for a property where authorities reported finding seven Torton tanker trucks, fuel, two underground taps and three pickup trucks, among other items.

AF Medios reports that a federal judge first found the arrests lawful and then ordered mandatory pretrial detention for all six men at Colima’s state prison. The report describes allegations and court measures, not convictions, and the case remains before the court. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office in Colima published an anonymous tip line and an email address for reports, which it says are staffed around the clock.