Rosen, Cornyn Introduce Bill to Combat Fuel Theft by Cartels

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced a bill to address fuel theft by cartels in Mexico. The bipartisan Stop Fueling Cartel Violence Act would require the Department of Defense to report to Congress on its efforts to clamp down on fuel smuggling by criminal groups in Mexico.

Transnational Criminal Organizations in Mexico steal fuel by illegally tapping pipelines, seizing trucks, and conducting sophisticated cross-border smuggling schemes. These criminal groups profit by selling the stolen or trafficked fuel at lower prices on the black market to evade taxes and get rich, leading to a major rise in violence in Mexico that then bleeds into the United States. Communities near pipelines are experiencing cartel-connected shootings, extortion, and intimidation. In recent years, the illicit trade has expanded beyond Mexico, with fuel smuggling linked to international money laundering and cross-border criminal operations, making it an economic, energy, and national security issue.

"Fuel theft in Mexico has become the most significant source of non-drug revenue for cartels, enabling them to sustain their illegal operations on both sides of the border, and we must take action to combat it." said Senator Rosen. "I am proud to help introduce this bipartisan bill to help clamp down on the cartels' ability to profit off of stolen fuel and crude oil, and I will continue to work across party lines to protect American families."

"Cartels and other criminal groups in Mexico are developing increasingly sophisticated methods to steal or smuggle hydrocarbon products, sell them on the black market, and use the profits to fund the drug and human trafficking that infiltrates our communities and kills innocent Americans every day," Cornyn said.

Senator Rosen has been a leader in the fight against cartels and illicit drug trafficking. She recently helped introduce legislation to combat illicit gold mining by transnational criminal organizations, including drug trafficking organizations, in the Western Hemisphere. Senator Rosen also helped introduce legislation to stop illicit drug trafficking through commercial aircraft, railroads, vehicles, and ships. She also helped pass into law the bipartisan FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which requires the President to sanction drug rings involved in international drug trafficking.

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