Miami-based Mexican consul Rutilio Escandon allegedly linked to criminal organization "La Barredora"
Willy Ochoa, a former interim governor of Chiapas and a member of the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) in Mexico, has publicly accused the current governor, Rutilio Escandón, of complicity in the operations of the criminal group "La Barredora" in Chiapas.
Ochoa's accusations are based on recent news reports and documents from the so-called "Guacamaya Leaks," which reveal the infiltration of "La Barredora" in Chiapas, taking advantage of an alleged power vacuum. The criminal organization operated with impunity in municipalities in the north and east of Chiapas, especially in areas bordering Tabasco, such as Ixtapangajoya, in 2019.
La Barredora is accused of activities such as fuel theft, drug trafficking, extortion, and human trafficking. These accusations suggest a failure of governance under Escandón's administration to control or combat this group effectively.
Ochoa has called on the Attorney General's Office and the Federal Government to thoroughly investigate the institutional protection network that, according to him, allowed this group to operate in the state. He emphasized that official silence regarding these events cannot go unpunished and demanded that those responsible be determined.
In a separate development, a letter denouncing Escandón has been sent to Donald Trump. However, the content of the letter has not been disclosed.
Meanwhile, in other news, more than 25,000 partiers were in the tourist area of Mazatlán over the weekend. In a tragic incident, a British national died of electrocution in Tepoztlan, Morelos. And in Zapopan, Jalisco, 169 plastic bags containing human remains were found.
The former head of security in Tabasco is an international fugitive, wanted for alleged ties to organized crime. These developments highlight the ongoing challenges in maintaining law and order in Mexico.
[1] La Jornada - Ochoa acusa al gobierno de Escandón de omisión o complicidad con La Barredora [2] Milenio - Ochoa pide a la Fiscalía y al Gobierno federal investigar la red de protección institucional que permitió la operación de La Barredora en Chiapas
- The allegations against Rutilio Escandón, the current governor of Chiapas, have expanded beyond Mexican borders, as a letter denouncing him has been sent to President Donald Trump,importantly, the content of the letter remains undisclosed.
- Ochoa's accusations against Escandón, rooted in the Guacamaya Leaks, suggest that the general-news and crime-and-justice issues in Chiapas are intertwined with politics, as he calls for a thorough investigation into the protection network allowing La Barredora to operate in the state.
