Federal authorities in Mexico secured import petitions, assembly minutes, and contracts hidden inside two warehouses in the Miguel Hidalgo borough of Mexico City, according to a statement released by Attorney General Ernestina Godoy on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. The raid, authorized by a control judge from the Federal Penal Justice Center of Almoloya de Juárez in the State of Mexico, targets a complex fiscal fuel-smuggling network allegedly led by former Baja California governor Ernesto Ruffo Appel.
What Was Found in the Mexico City Warehouses
According to the Fiscal General de la República (FGR), public ministers and experts accompanied by elements of the Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection conducted the search. Inside the rented mini-storage spaces featuring orange sliding doors, investigators discovered documents detailing foreign trade operations and simulated import activities by the investigated company. The FGR stated that the seized material also includes paperwork tied to other criminal schemes currently under review by the agency.
The FGR maintains a total of 25 targets in connection with this railway fuel-smuggling operation, with nine individuals already detained and linked to the ongoing legal proceedings. Among those previously detained is Guadalupe Hernández Hinojosa, legal representative for Ingemar S.A. de C.V., who was bound over for trial on August 12 on charges of contraband and organized crime related to hydrocarbon offenses. Other named suspects in the case include Ricardo Thompson Navarro, Juan Hermilo Chávez Rodríguez, Luis Antonio Barrientos Juárez, José Merino Valdés Cuervo, Adriana Magali Bárcenas Guillén, Guillermo de la Peña Rosales, and José María de la Peña Ramos.
Context of the Investigation and Fuel Import Volumes
According to the FGR’s imputations, the primary company under scrutiny is Ingemar, a firm founded and co-owned by Ernesto Ruffo Appel. Investigators report that during the year 2025, Ingemar imported 2 mil 137 millones 455 mil 156.22 liters of petroleum products, while Servicios Aduanales JR, S.A. de C.V. brought in an additional 225,633 liters. Both companies allegedly operated without the necessary permits from the Secretariat of Energy.
Ruffo Appel was originally arrested on July 16, 2026, in Ensenada, Baja California, executing an arrest warrant for hydrocarbons offenses, organized crime, and smuggling. Three days later, on July 19, authorities transferred him to the Altiplano federal prison in Almoloya de Juárez, where he remains under preventive detention.
Did You Know? The seizure includes import petitions and assembly minutes from Ingemar, a company founded by Ernesto Ruffo Appel that allegedly imported millions of liters of petroleum products in 2025 without Secretariat of Energy permits, as detailed in FGR case files.
Legal Status and Detention Conditions
Attorney General Ernestina Godoy addressed reports regarding Ruffo’s health and legal defense during her public address. According to the FGR, the agency has not received any formal notification from Ruffo’s defense team requesting a change of precautionary measure to home detention on health grounds. Godoy confirmed that the former governor receives all required medical care and that his rights are fully respected within the Altiplano prison.
The prosecutor emphasized that the FGR strictly respects the presumption of innocence and due process. All defendants in the case retain full legal guarantees to build their defense against the documents now integrated into the investigative folders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was discovered during the Mexico City warehouse raids?
According to the FGR, authorities found hidden import petitions, corporate assembly minutes, and contracts inside two rented storage units in the Miguel Hidalgo borough.
When was Ernesto Ruffo arrested and where is he currently held?
Ruffo was arrested on July 16, 2026, in Ensenada, Baja California, and transferred on July 19 to the Altiplano federal prison in Almoloya de Juárez, where he remains under preventive detention.
Has the FGR received a request for Ruffo’s house arrest?
No. Attorney General Ernestina Godoy stated that the prosecution has not been formally notified of any request by Ruffo’s defense to substitute his preventive prison term with house arrest.
What additional steps could federal prosecutors take as they examine the newly recovered import documents from the Miguel Hidalgo warehouses?
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