Elder Rodríguez Torres

Elder Rodríguez Torres, also known by his alias 'La Hormiga,' is a notorious figure linked to a criminal network involved in fuel theft, or 'huachicol,' in Tabasco, Mexico. He was reported to have bribed military personnel to facilitate the illegal extraction of diesel and gasoline from the Olmeca refinery operated by Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex). In 2022, he was arrested for the illicit storage of petroleum products and possession of military-grade ammunition. Despite a subsequent ruling that imposed a fine but allowed for his release, Rodríguez Torres continues to be implicated in a broader scandal involving corruption within various levels of Mexican law enforcement and military agencies, as detailed in intelligence reports leaked by activists. His operations, which included collaborating with other criminal associates, have drawn significant attention from national authorities and have highlighted the ongoing issues of corruption and organized crime in the region.