Mérida, Yucatán — A gang of black-market oil traffickers has been halted before settling in Yucatán, announced prosecutors from Campeche and Yucatán who worked jointly in a major crackdown.
The arrest of 19 suspects who called themselves “Pura Gente Nueva,” or “Pure New People,” was announced this week at a press conference.
Although some details were withheld from the public, authorities did say that the group’s attempt to settle in Yucatán was thwarted. A murder March 5 in Progreso, and the theft of diesel fuel from a ship there, has been linked to the gang. Roadside surveillance cameras helped officials track their movement and compile crucial evidence that led to the arrests.
The group was operating heavily in the Ciudad del Carmen region in Campeche, but failed to settle in Yucatan. However, they still have a presence in Tabasco, prosecutors say.