Abel Briones Ruiz

On 10 July 2019, Mexico's Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) informed the Attorney General's Office (FGR) of the existence of eight gas stations that were suspected of being involved in money laundering. Among them was Combustibles Briones, S.A. de C.V. The UIF highlighted that Briones Ruiz's company was sanctioned by the OFAC years back. In order to limit their suspected laundering activities, the Mexican government froze all Mexican bank accounts owned by Briones Ruiz, his sister and that of Combustibles Briones, S.A. de C.V. The company was also blocked from being able to generate an official Tax Administration Service (SAT) digital logo, which effectively prevents it from conducting business operations. However, Briones Ruiz and his sister responded by issuing writs of amparo to prevent the government from freezing their bank accounts. In the report, the UIF noted that another of the sanctioned gas companies, KNG Ultra S.A. de C.V. (also known as Ultragas México), made business transactions with Combustibles Briones, S.A. de C.V.

In January 2016, Pemex granted Combustibles Briones, S.A. de C.V. a license to sell their standard and premium gasoline, effectively superseding the short-term license they owned. The licence allowed for Combustibles Briones, S.A. de C.V. to operate for 30 years should they follow the conditions stipulated in the contract. Among the conditions were for Combustibles Briones, S.A. de C.V. to ensure safety regulations, product control standards, insurance requirements, and that financial reports and transactions were kept for record-keeping.

On 21 May 2015, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), a branch of the United States Department of the Treasury, sanctioned Briones Ruiz under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act ("Kingpin Act") for providing support to the international operations of the Gulf Cartel. He is designated as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker (SDNT). The economic sanction extends to four of Briones Ruiz's collaborators: Nieto González, Beattie de Briones, Ruiz Carrión and Claudia Aidé. The sanction also extends to his company, Combustibles Briones, S.A. de C.V. As part of the sanction, the U.S. government prohibited U.S. citizens from engaging in business activities with these entities and individuals, and froze all of their U.S.-based assets.

Briones Ruiz, known also by his alias "Cacho", is a suspected drug trafficker of the Gulf Cartel, a criminal group based in Tamaulipas. On 22 October 2014, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas (S.D. Tex) filed a sealed indictment against Briones Ruiz and three of his collaborators: Beattie Martínez, Nieto González, and an unnamed individual. The indictment was unsealed in court on 18 May 2015. According to the indictment, Briones Ruiz and his network conspired to smuggle with intent to distribute over 5 kg (11 lb) of cocaine from Mexico to the U.S. between 1 January 2005 and 22 October 2014. They were also charged with money laundering and illegal financial structuring.

Briones Ruiz several hotels and a Matamoros-based gas company, Combustibles Briones, S.A. de C.V., which is located on the highway connecting Matamoros with Reynosa. According to the Public Registry of Property and Commerce (RPPC), Briones Ruiz registered Combustibles Briones, S.A. de C.V. as a commercial entity and listed himself as a commercial business owner in 2009. In an RPPC assembly in 2012, he reported MXN$4.3 million in investments to justify an expansion in his company. That year, Pemex granted a short-term license to Combustibles Briones, S.A. de C.V. to opened up a gas station.

Abel Briones Ruiz (born 31 October 1973) is a Mexican business owner and suspected drug lord. He is reportedly a drug trafficker for the Gulf Cartel, a criminal group based in Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, between 2005 and 2014, Briones Ruiz and his network were responsible for cocaine trafficking from Mexico to the U.S., smuggling the cash proceeds back into Mexico, conducting money laundering from these earnings, and structuring financial activities to hide the illegal nature of his earnings. He did this through his family-run gasoline company, Combustibles Briones, S.A. de C.V. A fugitive from U.S. justice, Briones Ruiz faces up to life imprisonment and up to US$10 million in fines from his drug trafficking activities alone.

Abel Briones Ruiz was born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, on 31 October 1973 to Abel Briones and Magdalena Ruiz Carrión. His birth was registered in Matamoros in 1974. He is married to Myriam Susana Beattie Martínez. His sister is Claudia Aidé and she is married to Rogelio Nieto González.