WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) today introduced the Stop Fueling Cartel Violence Act, which would require reporting from the U.S. Department of War on its activities to combat the smuggling of hydrocarbon products and the corresponding rise in violence by Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) in Mexico:

“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,” said Sen. Cornyn.“This legislation would require the Secretary of War to submit a report to Congress on ways to counter these illicit schemes, protect our citizens, and safeguard U.S. national security.”

“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 Sen. 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.”

Background:

Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) 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 and terror activities 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. The Trump Administration has sanctioned individuals involved in fuel theft networks that generate hundreds of millions of dollars in profits for cartels like the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion.

The Stop Fueling Cartel Violence Act would:

• Raise awareness of the growing issue of fuel theft and assess current efforts to address the threat it poses to the United States;
• Require the U.S. Department of War to submit a report to Congress on recommendations to counter the smuggling of hydrocarbon products, including capacity building with partner nations and information sharing with U.S. civilian agencies that specialize in countering Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs);
• And strengthen U.S. economic, energy, and national security.

This legislation is endorsed by FDD Action.