Cans of smuggled gasoline are stored under a border crossing bridge between Colombia and Venezuela. Smugglers, given the nickname 'tanqueros', or tankers, fill up their tanks with gas in Venezuela, then drive over the border and sell it in Cucuta, Colombia, to make a profit.  Cans of smuggled gasoline are stored under a border crossing bridge between Colombia and Venezuela. Smugglers, given the nickname 'tanqueros', or tankers, fill up their tanks with gas in Venezuela, then drive over the border and sell it in Cucuta, Colombia, to make a profit.  A pimpinero, named after the Spanish word for gas can, sits where smuggled gasoline is sold along the road to the border.  A pimpinero, named after the Spanish word for gas can, sits where smuggled gasoline is sold along the road to the border.  A man refuels his motorcycle.  A man refuels his motorcycle.  Colombian sellers siphon gasoline smuggled by Venezuelan drivers.  Colombian sellers siphon gasoline smuggled by Venezuelan drivers.  A man fills gas tanks with smuggled gasoline.  A man fills gas tanks with smuggled gasoline.  A Colombian taxi driver and his son wait as their car is refueled with smuggled gasoline.  A Colombian taxi driver and his son wait as their car is refueled with smuggled gasoline.  COOMULPINORT, a pimpinero cooperative backed by Colombian state oil company Ecopetrol and the Colombian government, receives legal, discounted gasoline from Venezuela at this distribution plant, and then sells it to legitimate stations at competitive prices to break down smuggling.…  COOMULPINORT, a pimpinero cooperative backed by Colombian state oil company Ecopetrol and the Colombian government, receives legal, discounted gasoline from Venezuela at this distribution plant, and then sells it to legitimate stations at competitive prices to break down smuggling. The profits are then reinvested in retraining pimpineros and lending them money to start new businesses.  A gas station, fenced and guarded on the Venezuelan side of the border where taxis lined up to refuel. Many then go and sell the gasoline in Colombia.  A gas station, fenced and guarded on the Venezuelan side of the border where taxis lined up to refuel. Many then go and sell the gasoline in Colombia.
Every day thousands of cars, buses and motorcycles freshly loaded with gasoline head into Colombia from Venezuela. Once in Colombia, the fuel is siphoned off by freelancers known as pimpineros who pay them about $2 a gallon and resell the gasoline or diesel to Colombians for a few cents more.