Drug Cartels Are Looting Mexican Gas Pipelines

The black market is booming.

Stealing fuel from a gas station.
Photographer: Erick Herrera/AP Photo

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By Nacha Cattan and Eric Martin

January 12, 2017 at 8:34 PM UTC

Corrected

January 12, 2017 at 10:08 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

This article is part of the January 16, 2017 issue of businessweek.

“How long will it take you to get here?” Panchito, a gasoline thief, shouts into his cell phone at a truck driver headed his way. “I’ve got 12 canisters filled with diesel just for you.”

“I’ll be there in about an hour,” replies the driver, known by his nickname, El Chile Verde. “I’m just leaving Mexico City now.”