Mexico has closed seven gasoline stations for allegedly selling fuel stolen from state-run pipelines.
Observers have long said the amount of fuel taken in widespread pipeline thefts is too much to be sold from plastic containers by the side of the road. Many experts have long believed some of the gasoline and diesel siphoned off by illegal pipeline taps makes its way into some of Mexico's approximately 12,000 official gas stations.
Thursday's announcement by the state oil company Pemex is the first significant crackdown on such stations.
Officials confirmed that a total of 14 stations nationwide have been detected selling more fuel than they bought from Pemex, their only supplier at present.
Pemex runs the pipelines and supplies gas stations under a concessionary agreement.
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