The killing of a delegate from Mexico's Attorney General's Office in Tamaulipas may be linked to a fuel theft network allegedly led by Sergio Carmona, a late businessman who was accused of playing a key role in cross-border fuel smuggling.
Ernesto Cuitláhuac Vázquez Reyna was murdered in Reynosa earlier this week after a group of armed men intercepted his vehicle. According to local media, the attackers threw a fragmentation grenade inside the vehicle before fleeing and firing repeatedly at the federal prosecutor.
On Tuesday, Mexico's Attorney General's Office said the attack could be retaliation by criminal groups following recent operations targeting their illicit fuel theft ring. In July, authorities seized 1.8 million liters of stolen fuel and dozens of vehicles.
"While this remains the primary focus, we do not rule out other lines of investigation that could clarify what happened," the office said, according to CNN Español.
As reported by Infobae México, authorities believe the murder may be linked to criminal cells working for Carmona's enterprise.
"There are reports of individuals who wanted to prevent Ernesto Vázquez from revealing information he had long held about figures connected to businessman Sergio Carmona," journalist Oscar Balderas said.
Balderas added that Vázquez Reyna possessed sensitive information on criminal groups, businessmen, and public servants linked to Carmona's fuel theft network.
As the delegate of Mexico's Attorney General's Office in Tamaulipas, Vázquez Reyna was responsible for investigating federal crimes in a state where authorities routinely combat drug trafficking, fuel theft, human smuggling, and extortion.
According to Balderas, Vázquez Reyna was a key figure who could provide crucial evidence for federal and cross-border investigations into illegal political campaign financing and the inner workings of fuel smuggling operations.
He also noted that Vázquez Reyna was a high-priority target for criminal organizations due to significant U.S. interest.
"There is ongoing scrutiny connecting criminal groups in Mexico to the financing of political campaigns in Texas," the journalist explained.
Since 2023 Tamaulipas has been the epicenter of multiple attacks against public officials. Over the past two years there have been 10 armed attacks on officials, candidates, and businessmen, resulting in five deaths — including four public servants.
"El Rey del Huachicol"
Investigative journalist Anabel Hernández reported earlier this year that Carmona built his empire trafficking illegal fuel from Texas into Mexico through alliances with the Cártel del Noreste (CDN) and the Cártel del Golfo.
His influence extended into the public sector and political financing, allegedly funding campaigns for the ruling party Morena, including the 2018 presidential race and Tamaulipas Governor Américo Villarreal's campaign.
Carmona was murdered in November 2021, just weeks after he reportedly began cooperating with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). According to sources who spoke to Hernández, Carmona had started providing information on his operations and political ties to U.S. authorities.
Combating fuel theft in Tamaulipas
As noted by Milenio, the state of Tamaulipas has become the epicenter of efforts made by Mexican authorities to combat fuel theft rings due to its proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border.
In the last five months, the outlet says that officials have seized more than 11.8 million liters of diesel robado.
Often referred to as "huachicoleros", those involved in this black-market trade tap pipelines to steal fuel and resell it. The activity has become a lucrative enterprise for drug cartels and other criminal organizations, with the federal government estimating losses of more than $3 billion annually.
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