Francisco Guizar Pavón, the King of Gasoline (el rey de gasolina), was captured after 20 years of stealing oil from Mexico’s state-owned petroleum company Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX). The Ministry of Public Security (Secretaría de Seguridad Pública – SSP) confirmed that the capture was made a week after seven individuals were arrested for stealing 90,000 liters of gasoline from the state of Jalisco. Information exchanged between the detainees and police authorities led to the arrest of Pavón.
Pavón had been stealing oil for the past 20 years and is accused of buying various properties and luxurious cars with money earned from selling the oil. Pavón had worked for PEMEX from 1974 and 1993. He had started as a part-time employee and was later promoted to work at the department of drilling. He was later dismissed due to downsizing and having been suspected of stealing oil. There have been reports that Pavón had close ties with crime groups such as Los Zetas and La Familia and received protection from them.
Sources:
MSN Noticias. “El ‘Rey de gasolinas’ es capturado.” MSN Noticias. 14 June, 2010.
ABC. “Capturan en Mexico al ‘rey’ del robo de gasolinas.” ABC. 14 June, 2010.
La Jornada. “Detienen a El Rey de las Gasolinas.” La Jornada. 14 June, 2010.
