Mexico speaks out on the alleged "clandestine" oil shipment to Cuba

The government of Mexico commented in recent hours on the alleged clandestine shipment of crude oil to Cuba, a rumor that has gone viral on social media.

The denial did not come directly from President Claudia Sheinbaum or from a ministerial authority, which has been notable given the media attention generated by the rumor.

The Embassy of Mexico in the U.S. was responsible for firmly denying that the country has secretly sent oil to the island, as several social media posts and some news outlets recently claimed.

Through a brief but categorical statement, the diplomatic mission described those reports as "false" and part of "narratives designed to misinform."

“The information in this publication is false. It is part of narratives designed to misinform”, wrote the diplomatic mission, attaching an image of a note from the media UHN Plus that referred to a supposed clandestine shipment of Mexican crude oil to the Island.

In a second public statement, quoted by the Mexican press, the Embassy—led by Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma—deepened its rejection of the rumors.

He denied that any type of oil shipment had been "secretly carried out" or through "unconventional methods."

The note also reiterated the principle of legality that governs Mexican foreign policy.

“Humanitarian cooperation should not be confused with non-existent or illegal actions in the energy sector,” emphasized the diplomatic institution, while urging the public not to spread false information and to engage in critical consumption of content on social media.

Background of the complaint

The report circulated through various social media channels, referenced testimonies claiming that the crude had been hidden inside shipping containers, using an alternative storage system that allowed for masking the true nature of the contents.

This version maintained that the fuel had been sent under the label of "humanitarian aid," without formally declaring its nature as a hydrocarbon.

The denial from the Embassy of Mexico comes just a few days after the public and declared shipment of more than 800 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba on two ships.

That shipment included food, medicine, and basic supplies, and it was widely covered by the official Cuban media.

Following the arrival of that aid, organizations of Cubans residing in Mexico launched a donation drive in the capital's Zócalo, as a gesture of support in light of the severe economic crisis affecting the island.