The arrest of a senior aide to a politically-connected fuel tycoon killed last year has sparked new controversy in northern Mexico as the region prepares for this summer’s gubernatorial elections.
This week, Tamaulipas state officials arrested Nadia Virginia Graheda Castro and her partner Jose Alfredo “C” on the Reynosa town border. The arrest came as authorities responded to a call about gunmen in a vehicle located near an area called Las Fuentes in the western part of the city, the Tamaulipas Attorney General’s Office (FGJ) told Breitbart Texas. When authorities stopped the vehicle, they found a “replica” pistol and plastic bag of drugs. At the time of their arrest, the couple allegedly offered to bribe state police officers in exchange for their release. FGJ said in a statement that officers rejected the offer and took it to prosecutors for investigation.
The arrest sparked controversy in Tamaulipas because Grajeda was the secretary of Sergio Carmona, a fuel thief who supplied armored personnel carriers and allegedly financed the campaigns of members of Mexico’s ruling Morena party. Unidentified gunmen shot and killed Carmona last year in the upscale San Pedro suburb of Nuevo Leon state line, as Breitbart Texas reported. Before she died, Carmona and her brother Cesar made headlines for alleged involvement in various fuel theft companies in Mexico. The Tamaulipas government is currently investigating several Morena politicians, including the current mayor of Ciudad Victoria, Eduardo “Lalo” Ghattas, for their links to the Carmona fuel embezzlement network and allegations of corruption.
Tamaulipas is expected to hold a governorship election in June, with Américo Villarreal, one of the leaders backed by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, reportedly tied to Carmona’s network. Another leader, Cesar “Truco” Verastegui, came from the National Action Party, the same party as the current governor of Tamaulipas, Francisco Cabeza de Vaca. While López Obrador and Cabeza de Vaca have openly clashed in the past, the election has caused intense tension, especially due to the president’s moderate response to cartel violence.
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist for Breitbart Texas. Together with Brandon Darby and Breitbart senior management, he founded the Breitbart Texas Cartel Chronicles project. you can follow him excitement and more Facebook. can be contacted at. [email protected].
Brandon Darby is the managing director and editor-in-chief of Breitbart Texas. Together with Ildefonso Ortiz and Breitbart senior management, he founded the Breitbart Texas Cartel Chronicles project. follow him excitement also Facebook. can be contacted at. [email protected].
Source: Breitbart
