Fernando ‘N’, a Navy rear admiral and nephew of former Navy Secretary Rafael Ojeda, was detained in Argentina on April 23 for alleged involvement in a fuel smuggling scheme. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch reported he faces an arrest warrant for organized crime related to hydrocarbon offenses and has an Interpol red notice. Authorities seized a fake Guatemalan passport during the arrest.
The arrest of Fernando Farías Laguna, known as Fernando ‘N’, stemmed from a joint operation involving the General Prosecutor's Office (FGR), Navy Secretariat, Security Secretariat, Interpol Mexico, National Intelligence Center, and Argentine authorities.
The rear admiral had been sought since November 2025 after failing to appear for a hearing at Altiplano prison in the fuel smuggling case. A judge lifted his stay on arrest in October that year. Probes identify him as leader of a group of sailors who enabled 31 ships from the United States to enter Mexico with illegal fuel, including a vessel with 10 million liters seized at the port of Tampico, Tamaulipas, in March 2025.
Several sailors were discharged from the Mexican Navy as a result. Fernando ‘N’s lawyers accused the FGR of blocking full access to the 18,500-page case file. In September 2025, President Sheinbaum urged the FGR to thoroughly investigate any government or armed forces involvement.
On April 23, authorities dismantled a fuel smuggling network, detaining 14 people in central Mexico. Fuel smuggling involves technical contraband of hydrocarbons through undervaluation or fake invoicing to evade taxes.
