U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has reached out to seven maritime shipping companies regarding an investigation into cartel-related fuel smuggling between the U.S. and Mexico. He seeks to understand the vetting processes these companies employ to prevent their tankers from being used for illegal hydrocarbon transport. This inquiry comes as stolen crude and bootleg fuel have become significant revenue sources for Mexican cartels, second only to drug trafficking, according to the U.S. Treasury.
Wyden’s letters, sent to major players in the oil tanker industry, request detailed information on the due diligence practices of each company by January 10, 2026. Notably, Torm managed vessels allegedly involved in oil smuggling earlier this year. While CMB.Tech and Norden confirmed compliance with regulations and pledged to respond, the other companies have yet to comment.
The investigation reveals how cartels exploit loopholes in the U.S. energy sector, enabling them to evade taxes on fuel imports into Mexico. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel leads this illicit trade, which now constitutes up to one-third of Mexico’s diesel and gasoline market, valued at over $20 billion annually. Wyden emphasizes the need for the shipping industry to combat these operations to disrupt cartel activities, including drug distribution in the U.S.
