MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Civilian Protection, Omar García Harfuch, strongly denied allegations that he held negotiations or reached an agreement with one of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s sons regarding an ongoing investigation into a massive tax-evasion fuel smuggling network.
Speaking during a Tuesday morning press conference, Harfuch responded to media reports citing statements from a protected witness identified as “Santo” within a Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) case file. According to the reports, first highlighted by journalist Carlos Loret de Mola, operators inside the smuggling ring believed that a political rift between Harfuch and AMLO’s son had led to heightened federal enforcement actions, but that the two figures had ultimately reached a resolution.
Harfuch rejected the claims outright, stating he has no knowledge of the specific investigative file and has never communicated with any of the former president’s sons.
“Of course not, it is totally absurd,” Harfuch told reporters. “I do not know the contents of the investigation file, but that statement is completely absurd and detached from reality. Not only that, I have never held any conversation with the individuals referred to.”
The controversy stems from an extensive federal probe into a tax fuel fraud network—known locally as huachicol fiscal—that used fraudulent documentation and shell companies to illegally import fuel into Mexico without paying duties.
The investigation gathered momentum in March 2025 following the seizure of 10 million liters of diesel, along with weapons and vehicles, at the port of Tampico, Tamaulipas. The operation led to high-profile arrests, including former Navy Vice Admiral Manuel Roberto Farías Laguna in September 2025, and his brother, former Rear Admiral Fernando Farías Laguna, who was detained in April 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Both military officials are accused of helping lead the illicit enterprise.
According to testimony referenced in the reports, members of the network noticed federal scrutiny as early as February 2025, sparking fears among operators that the illicit operations would be exposed.
Despite the claims emerging from the protected witness statements, Harfuch reiterated that federal security forces remain focused on impartial law enforcement and anti-smuggling operations. FGR investigations into the fuel contraband ring remain active, with additional Navy personnel recently summoned to testify regarding the chain of command and operational decisions within the network.
Source: INFOBAE
