Marco Antonio Villeda, Minister of the Interior, said that there is a criminal structure that is stealing fuel tankers in the country, and investigation teams are working to identify its mode of operation and its members.
According to investigators from the National Civil Police (PNC), during the last week this criminal structure would be involved in the theft of four fuel tanker trucks in the south of the country.
They indicated that they have detected how the pilots arrive at Puerto San José to refuel and, after leaving that terminal, begin their journey; However, five kilometers later they are intercepted by a group of subjects.
They stated that this structure uses two modes of operation. The first consists of taking the tanker to farms located on the side of the road; Pickups and another tanker await them there to unload the gasoline and avoid tracking by the Global Positioning System (GPS).
The second mode of operation is to intercept tanker trucks bound for Retalhuleu or Quetzaltenango. When heavy transport vehicles travel between kilometers 80 and 95 of the route that leads from Escuintla to the west of the country, they are intercepted.
Subsequently, they are transferred to properties or vacant land where another tanker is located, in which the product is loaded and then sold at gas stations in the city of Altense and Huehuetenango.
The Police reported that they increased patrols and checkpoints in the south of the country to prevent these thefts.
Captures for gasoline theft
In December 2025, the PNC and the Public Ministry dismantled part of a criminal gang dedicated to the theft of fuel tankers in the south of the country. The organization, identified as “The Memes”, would have operated from Quetzaltenango, where it had its base of operations.
You could read: Hearing against the “Memas”: network is accused of stealing fuel and selling it in Quetzaltenango
Investigations indicate that they intercepted tanker trucks leaving the supply terminal located in Puerto San José, Escuintla. Once the units were stopped, the pilots were deprived of their freedom, the vehicles’ GPS signals were blocked and the fuel was unloaded at specific points.
Subsequently, the stolen product was transferred to Gas Star service stations located in Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango and other regions for marketing.