Mexican Drug Cartels Diversify into Oil w/Help of US Refineries

[nosmokes]

As if the goddamn oil companies don't make enough money already, now they're in cahoots w/ actually murdering,raping,looting thugs. Gee, sounds like the GOPosse they're so in love with.
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Mexican cartels smuggle oil to US


By MARTHA MENDOZA (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
August 10, 2009 3:02 PM EDT



MEXICO CITY - U.S. refineries bought millions of dollars worth of oil siphoned from Mexican government pipelines and smuggled across the border - in some cases by drug cartels expanding their reach.

At least one U.S. oil executive has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy that involved what prosecutors said was about $2 million in stolen Mexican oil, U.S. Justice Department officials confirmed to The Associated Press.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Homeland Security department is scheduled to hand over $2.4 million to Mexico's tax administration, the first batch of money seized during a joint investigation into smuggled oil that authorities expect to lead to more arrests and seizures.

"The United States is working with the Mexican government on the theft of oil," said Nancy Herrera, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Houston. "It's an ongoing investigation, with one indictment so far."

In that case, Donald Schroeder, president of Houston-based Trammo Petroleum, is scheduled to be sentenced in December after pleading guilty in May. Trammo's small firm profited about $150,000 in the scheme, in which various U.S. companies hauled stolen Mexican petroleum products across the border in trucks and barges, according to court records.
~snip~

[villager]

1. well, both are run by criminal syndicates, so it makes sense...

n/t