<>
The company Ingemar maintains four active permits to import hydrocarbons into Mexico despite being linked to the smuggling of over 15 million liters of fuel from the United States. According to public records from the Secretariat of Energy, a four-year legal battle resulted in judicial amparo rulings that forced authorities to authorize the company’s import operations.
Import Operations and the “Huachicol Ferroviario”
Investigations by the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) have connected these operations to the “huachicol ferroviario,” or railway fuel smuggling. The inquiry, which involves former Baja California governor Ernesto Ruffo Appel, identified 4,238 import operations between January and July 2025. These shipments passed through customs in Nuevo Laredo, Ciudad Camargo, Matamoros, and Reynosa, all located in the state of Tamaulipas.
Evidence suggests a significant discrepancy in reported volumes. According to investigators, each rail tanker was documented as carrying 10,000 liters, while the units were actually transporting 110,000 liters of gasoline or diesel.
Did You Know?
The investigative findings indicate that the actual fuel volume transported in rail tankers was 11 times higher than the amount reported in official customs documentation during the first seven months of 2025.
Status of Ingemar’s Import Permits
Ingemar, registered under RFC ING180809AU5, currently holds four permits, several of which continue to operate under judicial protection despite expiration dates that passed in 2024. The status of these authorizations is as follows:
- Permit 1701C123000151: A definitive authorization for 216 million liters of gasoline (87 to 92 octane), valid until December 26, 2026.
- Permit 1701C123000152: Originally expired December 26, 2024, but remains active via registration 27101299. It covers 102 million 240 thousand liters of gasoline (92 to 95 octane).
- Permit 1701C123000153: Expired December 26, 2024, but continues under judicial protection as registration 27101999 03. It authorizes 173 million 280 thousand liters of diesel and oil with low sulfur content.
- Permit 1701C123000154: Expires December 26, 2024, for the import of 7 million 200 thousand liters of turbosina and kerosene.
Potential Next Steps in the Investigation
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Ingemar still have active permits if they are linked to smuggling?
According to the Secretariat of Energy, the company won four-year legal battles that resulted in judicial amparo rulings, compelling the government to grant or maintain their import authorizations.
What is the “huachicol ferroviario”?
It refers to an alleged smuggling operation involving rail tankers that reported significantly lower fuel volumes at customs than they actually carried, specifically observed in Tamaulipas between January and July 2025.
Are all of Ingemar’s permits still within their original validity period?
No. While permit 1701C123000151 is valid until December 2026, three other permits (1701C123000152, 1701C123000153, and 1701C123000154) reached their expiration dates in December 2024 but remain in operation due to judicial protection.
How will the continued use of these permits affect the ongoing investigation into fuel smuggling?
Related reading