Criminals at PEMEX, Syria, and Failed States

From the NYT:

"The government has a clear advantage. Its Central Bank reported foreign currency assets of about $17 billion, one month after the conflict started. According to an investment consultant in the capital, Damascus, the government now appears to be asking Russia for loans to continue propping up the economy. Many analysts also suspect that the Syrians have found a way to sell oil, despite sanctions from Europe."


This report is from the Failed State of Syria.


There have been reports in Mexico of criminals from the Zeta gang, selling oil illegaly in the US.


Do you see any similarity?