From high command to priority objective: the career of Hernán Bermúdez Requena
Hernán Bermúdez Requena, who held the position of Secretary of Public Security in Tabasco between 2021 and 2023, faces a drastic change in status: from an authority in charge of combating crime to an international fugitive with a red card from Interpol. This change occurred after the issuance of an arrest warrant on February 14, 2025 by the Tabasco Prosecutor’s Office, under suspicion of collusion with “La Barredora”, a criminal cell associated with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), according to judicial documents consulted.
The escape and the international route
Witnesses and immigration records detail that Bermúdez left Mexico from the airport in Mérida, Yucatán, bound for Panama City. Later, after a stopover in Madrid, he headed to São Paulo, Brazil, as confirmed by General Miguel Ángel López Martínez, commander of the 30th Military Zone, in statements to Radio Formula. This mobility pattern suggests access to logistical and financial resources characteristic of consolidated criminal networks.
The accusations against the former official are not recent. During his administration, civil and military intelligence reports already linked him to alleged protection activities for drug trafficking groups. However, it was not until 2024 when accusatory banners appeared on Villahermosa roads, signed by alleged rivals of the CJNG, which accelerated formal investigations.
Institutional implications and regional patterns
This case reflects a structural problem in the Mexican security forces: the infiltration of cartels in middle and high management. Data from the National Citizen Observatory indicate that, between 2018 and 2024, at least 12 former state security secretaries faced similar processes for links to organized crime, mainly in states with high CJNG activity and Sinaloa.
Experts consulted point out that Bermúdez’s escape shows flaws in the surveillance protocols for former officials. “When there are clear indications, as in this case, there should have been preventive immigration restriction,” warns security analyst Patricia Rodríguez. In addition, they highlight that Brazil does not have an extradition treaty with Mexico for drug trafficking crimes, which would complicate their eventual capture.
Reactions and next steps
The Attorney General’s Office (FGR) took on the case due to its transnational scope, coordinating with the Financial Intelligence Unit to track bank accounts and properties linked to the accused. At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began diplomatic efforts to request support from the Brazilian authorities.
Meanwhile, civil organizations such as México Evalúa demand in-depth audits of the hiring processes in security agencies. “Without continuous control and evaluation mechanisms, these cases will continue to be repeated,” underlines its latest report on institutional corruption.
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