Create a free Manufacturing.net account to continue

Mexico Arrests 4 Pemex Employees For Fuel Theft

The Pemex oil company has had an increasing problem of thefts from illegally perforated pipelines, but the employees were stealing fuel by opening valves.

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Mexico's state-owned oil company says four its employees were arrested for stealing fuel from the company's pipelines.

The Pemex oil company has had an increasing problem of thefts from illegally perforated pipelines, but the employees were stealing fuel by opening valves.

Pemex said late Tuesday the four were detained Monday in the north-central state of Guanajuato.

The area is known both for its refineries and roadside stands that sell fuel, often diesel.

Pemex said in 2013 that 1,421 illegal fuel taps had been discovered in the first six months of that year, almost twice the 722 taps uncovered in the same period of 2012.

Pemex employees have long been rumored to aid in those thefts, by advising thieves about times when pipeline pressure would be low, to allow drilling.

More in Energy