Operación Caudal in Mexico State led to the closure of 189 properties used for illegal water extraction, without disrupting household supplies. The operation, however, triggered protests by water truck operators and transporters who blocked the Mexico-Querétaro highway on October 29, 2025. Governor Delfina Gómez defended the action as a step toward equitable water regulation.
Operación Caudal, driven by Governor Delfina Gómez Álvarez, was deployed across 48 municipalities in Mexico State to combat illegal water extraction and commercialization. The operation, coordinated with federal, state, and municipal agencies including CAEM, Conagua, and the Attorney General's Office of Mexico State (FGJEM), resulted in the closure of 189 properties: 51 wells and 138 illegal taps. These actions did not disrupt public household supplies, keeping services stable as operated by municipal bodies and CAEM.
FGJEM investigations linked the intervened sites to organizations such as the Unión de Sindicatos y Organizaciones Nacionales, Alianza de Autotransportistas, Comerciantes y Anexas de México, and groups like “Los 300”, “Libertad”, “25 de Marzo”, “22 de Octubre”, and “Chokiza”. These entities hoarded water and resold it via trucks at prices up to 59% higher in municipalities like Ecatepec, leading to overexploitation of wells and system pressure imbalances.
On October 29, 2025, water truck operators blocked the Tepotzotlán toll booth on the Mexico-Querétaro highway, leaving only two lanes open, protesting unfulfilled agreements from October 27. They claimed the State Water Commission provided fake phone numbers for refilling their trucks. “On Monday when they protested, they reached agreements with authorities from the State Water Commission and the Attorney General's Office; however, last night they reported that those agreements were not fulfilled,” explained Fernando Cruz in an interview.
At the same time, merchants and transporters from Cuautitlán Izcalli marched toward Palacio Nacional, denouncing persecution by the FGJEM, which they say fabricates crimes. They anticipated up to 3,000 participants, with only one lane open, causing traffic chaos on Periférico Norte and in municipalities like Tlalnepantla and Naucalpan. Previously, the operation seized over 300 trucks commercializing 'siphoned' water at high prices.
Delfina Gómez emphasized that the operation does not target legal operators. “It's not about affecting those who provide jobs or services, but about regulating them,” she said. She assured willingness to dialogue and facilitate regularizations, with a firm hand against abuses: “Those who act according to the law have no reason to worry; those who break the law must face sanctions.” The government coordinates with SEDENA, SEMAR, and the National Guard to ensure legal and sustainable water distribution, combating hoarding that denies access to communities.
