Arrest Warrant Issued for “El Señor de los Buques” in Massive Fuel Smuggling Scheme

Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office (FGR) has issued an arrest warrant for Roberto Blanco Cantú, a Monterrey businessman known as “El Señor de los Buques,” for allegedly leading a sophisticated network that smuggled millions of liters of diesel from the United States into Mexico under false documentation.
Investigators link Blanco Cantú to the possession, transport, and storage of illicit fuel and to organized crime. One key incident involved the vessel Challenge Procyon, which arrived at the port of Altamira, Tamaulipas, carrying more than ten million liters of diesel labeled as lubricant additives.
Authorities report that the operation relied on the complicity of high ranking naval officials overseeing customs. At least thirty one ships are believed to have entered Mexico using the same fraudulent method. Similar activity was detected at the port of Guaymas, Sonora, where another tanker offloaded more than two million liters of diesel with falsified paperwork.
Blanco Cantú allegedly used companies such as Mefra Fletes, Auto Líneas Roca, and Petro Express, none of which were licensed to import fuel, to disguise the shipments. The case has already led to the arrest of fourteen people, including active duty Navy officers and business operators, and highlights how criminal networks penetrate maritime trade despite military control of ports.

Why it matters
This investigation exposes the scale of “huachicol fiscal,” or maritime fuel theft, and the deep corruption that allows cartel aligned networks to exploit international shipping and customs systems. It underscores the financial and reputational risk for companies engaged in cross border trade and energy logistics.

How OGA Can Help
Obsidian Group Analytics provides advanced due diligence to uncover hidden ownership structures and illicit trade practices behind seemingly legitimate shipping and logistics companies.
We analyze corporate records and customs data to identify suspicious fuel imports and front companies.
Our financial intelligence services trace cross border payment flows and uncover relationships between business operators, government insiders, and organized crime.
We deliver actionable intelligence that helps clients assess exposure, strengthen compliance, and avoid entanglement with networks like those revealed in the Blanco Cantú investigation.