Mexican Lawmakers Demand Extradition of Former Governor Accused of Organized Crime
Mexico City – Lawmakers from the Morena party have filed a new complaint with the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (FEMDO) seeking the extradition of former Tamaulipas Governor Francisco Javier garcía Cabeza de Vaca from the United States. The complaint alleges involvement in organized crime, illicit financial operations, extortion, and crimes related to hydrocarbons.
The renewed legal push comes as authorities aim to bring Cabeza de Vaca to justice in Mexico, where he faces serious accusations of corruption and criminal activity. According to a statement released by Morena officials, the case centers around allegations that Cabeza de Vaca leveraged his position to engage in a wide range of illicit practices during his time in office.
One key accusation involves the creation of a “mini Tamaulipas Tax Management Service” in 2020. Armando Prieto Herrera, a local deputy from Reynosa, alleges this entity functioned as a system of extortion, establishing checkpoints operated by armed police under Cabeza de Vaca’s command. “they extorted transporters and made duties that did not correspond to them. They confiscated all the material that entered Mexico, that’s what customs were for,” Herrera stated.
The allegations extend to potential ties with criminal groups involved in the theft of hydrocarbons from Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) pipelines and fuel trafficking between the United States and Mexico. Investigators are reportedly examining evidence suggesting Cabeza de Vaca accepted bribes from cells engaged in drug trafficking. A deputy further claimed that rail tankers carrying stolen fuel – known as huachicol – were allowed to pass unhindered during Cabeza de Vaca’s administration.
“They also let the rail tankers pass with alleged huachicol.At the time they made a lot of noise because they had confiscated more or less 200 thousand liters of huachicol on onyl one occasion, after that they did not confiscate any ferrotanks again,” a source revealed. the deputy noted that even a former local deputy, Ismael García – the ex-governor’s brother – admitted that hundreds of tankers filled with stolen fuel circulated freely on tamaulipas highways for years.
Morena President in Tamaulipas, Lupita Gómez, announced the collection of over 100,000 signatures demanding Cabeza de Vaca’s imprisonment and the return of allegedly stolen funds to the state.
A significant point of contention revolves around Cabeza de Vaca’s dual nationality. Federal Deputy Sergio Gutiérrez Luna emphasized that holding high office in Mexico requires renunciation of foreign citizenship. “If he didn’t do it, he committed fraud here in Mexico,” Gutiérrez luna asserted, adding that evidence suggests Cabeza de Vaca may have obtained his positions illegally. Reports indicate he is currently believed to be between McAllen and Houston, with photos surfacing of him meeting with associates.
At 2:00 p.m. local time, Morena legislators plan to present the collected signatures to the supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN). Minister Lenia Batres is currently preparing a project to determine whether the arrest warrant against cabeza de Vaca should remain in effect. Legislators are hopeful that Batres will rule in favor of upholding the warrant and pursuing Cabeza de Vaca’s extradition.
One lawmaker stated that Cabeza de Vaca previously benefited from collusion with ministers and judges, a situation they believe has now been addressed with the suspension of a Reynosa judge by the Federal Judiciary Council. The legislators reiterated their request to Minister Batres to hold Cabeza de Vaca accountable under the law.
