Background on Hernán Bermúdez Requena
Hernán Bermúdez Requena, the former security secretary of the Mexican state of Tabasco, was detained in Paraguay on Friday night. He is accused of having ties with a powerful drug trafficking cartel, the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación, and leading the criminal group “La Barredora.”
Collaborative Arrest and Extradition Request
Paraguayan forces, in collaboration with Mexican authorities, apprehended Bermúdez Requena in the upscale area of Mariano Roque Alonso, a city in Paraguay. Following his capture, Mexico formally requested his extradition.
The Mexican security secretary initially reported that Bermúdez Requena had already been transferred to Mexico, but a federal source close to the case clarified that the extradition process was still ongoing as of Saturday.
The Paraguayan Attorney General’s office confirmed that Mexico had requested Bermúdez Requena’s handover and scheduled an initial hearing for Saturday afternoon.
Bermúdez Requena’s Background and Allegations
An Interpol Red Notice, issued in mid-July, accused Bermúdez Requena of “association for criminal purposes, extortion, and express kidnapping.” He left Mexico in January of this year.
President Santiago Peña of Paraguay emphasized in a social media message that his country “will not be a sanctuary for criminals.” He shared a video of the operation to capture Bermúdez Requena, showing agents with long guns and military attire attempting to breach the door of the residence where Bermúdez Requena was found.
Despite the serious allegations, Bermúdez Requena did not resist arrest and was seen conversing with authorities while seated on a sofa.
Political Context and Implications
Bermúdez Requena’s appointment as Tabasco’s security secretor (2019-2024) by Adán Augusto López, then the state’s governor, has garnered significant attention in Mexican media. López, who also served as the Secretary of the Interior and is currently a senator for the ruling Morena party, is one of the closest political allies of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024).
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Hernán Bermúdez Requena? He was the former security secretary of Tabasco, Mexico, accused of leading a criminal group called “La Barredora” with ties to the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación.
- Why was he detained in Paraguay? Bermúdez Requena was captured by Paraguayan forces in collaboration with Mexican authorities following an operation in Mariano Roque Alonso.
- What are the allegations against him? He faces charges of association for criminal purposes, extortion, and express kidnapping, according to an Interpol Red Notice issued in mid-July.
- Who is Adán Augusto López? He is a prominent Mexican politician, former Secretary of the Interior, current senator for Morena, and a close ally of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
- What is the significance of this arrest? The arrest highlights the cross-border cooperation between Mexico and Paraguay in combating organized crime and demonstrates the seriousness of addressing drug trafficking cartels.
