A fuel scarcity arose after President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador decided to close government pipelines riddled with illegal fuel taps drilled by thieves, and instead deliver gas and diesel by tanker trucks. (Marco Ugarte/Associated Press)MEXICO CITY — President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador vowed Thursday not to retreat in his battle against fuel theft gangs. “There will be no retreat, not one step backward,” Lopez Obrador said. He called for support from people who live in communities that make money from fuel theft, often by acting as lookouts or protecting thieves against police and military raids. But he acknowledged it was harder to detect the illegal taps when pipelines are closed.

Source: Washington Post January 10, 2019 20:03 UTC