As the Trump administration pressures Mexico to crack down on drug cartels or face severe trade tariffs, a major scandal has erupted linking high-ranking political figures to one of Mexico’s most violent criminal organizations. Interpol has issued a Red Notice for Hernán “Comandante H” Bermúdez Requena, the former Public Security Secretary for the state of Tabasco, who is now accused of leading “La Barredora,” an armed wing of the Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG)—a group recently labeled by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization.
Bermúdez allegedly fled Mexico in January after learning he was under investigation. The revelation has shaken Mexican politics, particularly due to his close ties to Adán Augusto López, a former governor of Tabasco, ex-Interior Secretary, and now Senate leader for the ruling MORENA party. López, a top ally of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and one-time presidential contender, vanished from public view for several days after the Red Notice was issued, sparking criticism and political backlash.
When López resurfaced, he denied any involvement with organized crime and pointed to public safety improvements during his tenure. His staff released statements on social media defending his record, but public skepticism remains high given his personal relationship with Bermúdez.
The scandal deepened when former Chiapas Governor Willy Ochoa accused the CJNG’s armed faction of operating freely in Chiapas under former Governor Rutilio Escandón—another political ally of López and López Obrador. Ochoa stated that criminal groups like La Barredora were able to act “with complete impunity” and blamed government officials for enabling cartel presence through “omission, complicity, or cowardice.”
Escandón, now Mexico’s Consul in Miami, has not responded to the allegations.
The timing of the scandal complicates Mexico’s efforts to appease U.S. demands for action against cartel violence. President Trump has warned of trade tariffs and signaled the possibility of military action if Mexico fails to address the cartel threat. The exposure of alleged high-level government complicity may further undermine U.S. confidence in Mexico’s ability—or willingness—to combat cartel influence internally.
