Caracoles Airport

The airport was not closed in a traditional sense but was converted for exclusive military use. This decision was driven by the intense security crisis in the state of Tamaulipas during that period. The region, particularly the Burgos Basin, was a hotspot for cartel activity. The Mexican federal government transferred control of the airfield from PEMEX (the state oil company) to the Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (SEDENA) to establish a permanent military base. This was a strategic move to combat organized crime, protect national energy infrastructure (the vast natural gas fields), and improve the military's operational capabilities and response times in a highly volatile area.

The site is an active military installation and is no longer a civilian or private airport. It has been renamed and is now known as 'Campo Militar 8-F General de División Lázaro Cárdenas del Río'. It is operated by the Mexican Army (SEDENA) and serves as a forward operating base for security operations, surveillance, and troop deployment in the region. The runway and facilities are maintained for military aircraft use.

Caracoles Airport was a private airfield of critical importance to Mexico's energy sector. Its primary operator and user was Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX). The airport's main function was to provide air logistics for the exploration and exploitation of the Cuenca de Burgos (Burgos Basin), Mexico's largest reserve of non-associated natural gas. Operations consisted mainly of transporting specialized personnel, engineers, executives, and high-value, time-sensitive equipment between major cities and the remote gas fields. It was a vital logistical hub that enabled the development and operation of this key national energy asset.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the airport to civilian or commercial use. Given its current role as a strategic military base in a region with ongoing security concerns, the likelihood of it being returned to its former civilian function is extremely low to non-existent in the foreseeable future. The government's investment in converting it into a military camp signifies a long-term commitment to its current use.