Profeco Closes 10 Gas Stations in Quintana Roo

QUINTANA ROO, Mexico — Federal authorities have temporarily closed 10 gas stations in Quintana Roo following an extraordinary verification operation that detected fuel shortages of up to 1,212 milliliters per 20 liters sold. Inspectors immobilized 20 fuel pumps and ordered the temporary closures.

The federal operation, conducted by inspectors from the Federal Consumer Prosecutor's Office (Profeco) and the Agency for Safety, Energy, and Environment (ASEA), took place on October 16 and 17. A total of twelve service stations were reviewed across the municipalities of Tulum, Solidaridad (Playa del Carmen), and Benito Juárez (Cancún).

During the first day, officials visited six stations—four in Tulum and two in Playa del Carmen. Irregularities were detected in the dispensers, with two stations delivering incomplete liters. One machine was found to be shorting customers by 835.72 milliliters for every 20 liters sold.

In response to these failures, officials immobilized 20 measurement instruments and ordered the temporary closure of 10 stations. On the second day, another six stations were inspected—three in Playa del Carmen and three in Cancún—resulting in an additional 17 pumps being immobilized.

One gas station in Benito Juárez was found to be delivering 1,212.19 milliliters less per 20 liters. This case will be referred to the Attorney General's Office of the Republic for further action.

Beyond the incomplete fuel deliveries, inspectors identified other violations, including measurement system failures where data was not retained after power outages and discrepancies between electronic records and internal logbooks.

ASEA imposed total closures on stations that lacked a valid environmental impact resolution and a Single Environmental License. Two gas stations refused to permit the inspection, prompting the initiation of administrative proceedings against them.

Profeco confirmed that these measures are part of the National Strategy to Promote Gasoline Price Stabilization. The agency emphasized that similar operations are being replicated in other states across the country, with comparable irregularities already detected in Mexico City and the State of Mexico.

The agency urged consumers to report any anomalies in fuel dispensing, such as incomplete supply, refusal to provide receipts, or malfunctions in payment methods. Authorities warned that the operations will continue to ensure users receive full liters and that stations comply with their environmental obligations.

Widespread System Failures Compound Fuel Crisis in Cancún

The suspension of pumps due to irregularities occurs amidst a complicated situation for motorists in Cancún. According to reports gathered by Diario CAMBIO 22, over 80% of Pemex gas stations in the city were out of service and unable to dispense fuel on October 15, reporting they were "without system."

Residents of neighborhoods such as Polígono Sur, Región 100, and Avenida Las Torres reported on social media that the majority of stations remained out of operation. Only some stations from private chains, such as Oxxo Gas, La Gas, and Full Gas, were operating normally.

The lack of service generated long lines and forced drivers to search for fuel in other towns or wait for hours to refuel. This situation contrasts with the message from the Cancún City Council. On October 9, Municipal President Ana Paty Peralta had assured that "only five gas stations continued with failures" and that "all the others were already ready to load fuel." Six days later, the panorama remained critical, highlighting a disconnect between the official narrative and the reality experienced by citizens.

Sources within the energy sector cited by Diario CAMBIO 22 attribute the collapse to failures in Pemex's internal systems, possibly linked to recent blackouts and electrical instability in the region. While there is no official confirmation, it is suspected that the interruptions could be related to problems with the company's central servers or unscheduled maintenance.

Meanwhile, the few stations in operation are working at full capacity. Some are only accepting cash payments and are giving priority to emergency vehicles.

The combination of closures for non-compliance and failures in Pemex's systems has provoked a mobility crisis in Cancún, a tourist destination that depends heavily on land transportation. Federal and state authorities face pressure to restore service and provide transparent information so consumers have certainty about the fuel supply.

The Profeco operations against incomplete liters, while necessary to protect users and the environment, underscore the fragility of the energy infrastructure and the urgency of correcting deficiencies for the benefit of the citizenry.