Video | That is the "maximum vigilance" of fuel in Mexico after the fatal explosion: fear more thefts on clandestine routes

The Mexican army helicopter artillery crosses the country's pipelines and refineries to locate stowaways where thieves steal the gasoline that they resell later. The phenomenon called "huachicoleo" caused a tragedy in January in which More than a hundred people have died.

During a routine flight, a plane monitors the pipelines leading to a distribution center located in the city of Azcapotzalco, north of Mexico City, and at the Tula refinery, in the central state d & # 39; Hidalgo.

It is in this state that the explosion of an illegal outlet has caused the death of more than 120 people who came for gasoline on January 18. A few days later, another similar incident occurred, although the authorities badured that this time there would have been no fatal casualties.

The tragedy highlighted the problem of fuel theft in Mexico – which leaves a little $ 3 trillion in losses Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), a public company – and the government's strategy to deal with it.

Until last October, they were located in Hidalgo 1726 illegal catches, a figure that was only exceeded around 1815 in the state of Puebla, according to Pemex.

Equipped with five crew elements, one helicopter continues its way to the refinery of Salamanca, in the central state of Guanajuato, where last year, 1,547 clandestine acquisitions were reported.

During the trip, the helicopter approached the ground in case his crew would have seemed suspicious. In the air, they coordinated with ground elements that identified a clandestine takeover and avoided risks to the population.

The army is a fundamental part of López Obrador's strategy to fight oil theft, a crime that has increased in recent years.

In addition to aerial surveillance of pipelines and refineries, elements of the Army and Navy they make trips to the land and they have a security check in several refineries in the country.

January 31, a criminal group threatened to kill in uniform and civilians if the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador does not remove soldiers fighting the theft of fuel.