Mexico’s Gas Thefts Challenge New Anti-Corruption President (Corrected)

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had only been in office about seven weeks when a gasoline pipeline owned by Pemex exploded Jan. 18, killing more than 100 people and injuring dozens.

Many of those killed had been siphoning off gasoline from an illegal tap in the pipeline that courses through a rural area north of Mexico City when it blew.

The tragedy illustrates the challenge faced by Lopez Obrador, who came to power on the promise of weeding out corruption, including within the state-owned Pemex. In an effort to put a stop to Mexico’s $3-billion-dollar-a year gasoline theft ...