Opposition formally accuses AMLO’s ex-interior minister of ties to Tabasco crime gang

A governmental ungraded that has been brewing since the opening of the twelvemonth is shining a spotlight connected high-ranking members of the ruling Morena enactment — astir notably Mexico’s erstwhile interior curate and ex-governor of Tabasco, Adán Augusto López. Allegations of amerciable enactment person present led absorption leaders to record a transgression ailment against López, adjacent arsenic ruling enactment lawmakers artifact attempts to sermon the lawsuit successful Congress.

The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) connected Wednesday formally requested that the Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) analyse López, presently a Morena enactment senator, for transgression relation portion besides demanding that helium resign from office.

The accusation stems from López’s narration with Hernán Bermúdez, the erstwhile authorities information curate of Tabasco. Bermúdez, who is nether probe for ties to organized crime, fled Mexico successful January.

As politician of Tabasco, López selected Bermúdez to beryllium the state’s apical cop, though the second had been jailed for 11 days successful 2006 portion being investigated for murder. The brace is said to person a narration dating backmost much than 30 years.

López has not spoken publically astir the scandal, limiting his comments to a July 18 station connected X successful which helium said helium was consenting to taxable to questioning if truthful required.

Bermúdez allegedly utilized his presumption arsenic information curate to found ties with the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and oversee an extortion racket and fuel-theft ringing successful Tabasco.

López besides faces allegations that, in his capableness arsenic notary public, helium helped Bermúdez and his member acceptable up ammunition companies utilized to transportation retired these amerciable activities arsenic good arsenic gain millions successful state-issued contracts.

Bermúdez remained successful complaint of the Tabasco Security Ministry aft López near the governor’s mansion to go interior curate successful 2021, yet stepping speech precocious past year. He reportedly fled the state successful January, conscionable 2 weeks earlier an apprehension warrant was issued.

Word of the apprehension warrant was confirmed successful mid-July by Gen. Miguel Ángel López, who said Bermúdez was identified arsenic the person of the transgression pack known arsenic “La Barredora.” Gen. López said that Interpol has issued a “red notice,” alerting constabulary worldwide that Bermúdez is simply a fugitive.

Shortly aft taking bureau successful October 2024, Tabasco Gov. Javier May identified Bermúdez arsenic the person of La Barredora. May, a subordinate of Morena, besides criticized his predecessors, including López, saying they needed to reply questions astir their cognition of Bermúdez’s activities.

Leaked quality reports suggest that national authorities knew of Bermúdez’s links to La Barredora arsenic acold backmost arsenic 2020 and then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador reportedly ordered an investigation into Bermúdez’s illicit activities successful 2021.

PRI Senator Alejandro Moreno submitted the question to unit López to resign. It was the 3rd clip the absorption has sought to unfastened statement connected the scandal, but members of the ruling enactment Morena person repeatedly blocked the taxable from being placed connected the legislative docket.

Senator Alejandro Moreno is the nationalist person of Mexico’s PRI party, which ruled the state from 1929 to 2000. (File photo)

Morena lawmakers closed ranks astir López connected Wednesday, insisting determination is nary ineligible instauration for López to resign. “There is nary ceremonial probe of López and the accusations are thing much than a media-driven smear campaign,” said Morena Senator Imelda Castro.

In its petition to person López removed from office, the PRI cited Senate regulations that specify honorability, governmental work and nationalist morals arsenic conditions for exercising fashionable representation.

The PRI enactment besides revealed that it had filed a 2nd ailment with the FGR, requesting an probe of 8 salient Morena enactment members, including erstwhile President López Obrador, Education Secretary Mario Delgado and 5 governors. The PRI alleges that the Morena politicians are progressive successful “a treasonous cover-up of organized transgression activities.”

Later Wednesday, the National Action Party (PAN) besides demanded a ceremonial probe into López’s ties to Bermúdez. “This is not an isolated case,” said PAN Senator Ricardo Anaya. “This suggests a signifier of complicity betwixt Morena and organized crime.”

With reports from Animal Político, El País, Milenio, Excelsior and InSight Crime