Mexico: 178 journalists murdered in 26 years, most in Veracruz

Operational in Agua Prieta

Four people were arrested in a search carried out in the Sal Si Podemos neighborhood of Agua Prieta, Sonora. The State Attorney General’s Office (FGJE) secured approximately 1,500 bank cards used to collect illegal loans.

The operation occurred on July 5 at a home on 20th and 21st Street. Agents from the Ministerial Criminal Investigation Agency (AMIC), the Secretariat of National Defense and the Municipal Police participated. Weapons, drugs, cell phones and documentation were found at the scene.

The detainees were identified as Isaías “N”, 37 years old; Raphael “N”; Martín Arturo “N” and Luis Antonio “N”. They seized 10 packages of cocaine, a .357 caliber Taurus revolver, a .22 caliber carbine, a slug rifle and three .32 caliber cartridges.

The investigation began with the complaint of a 41-year-old woman who reported having been deprived of her liberty, physically attacked with a firearm and threatened with death along with her family. Due to these events, crimes of illegal deprivation of liberty, aggravated robbery and threats are being investigated.

According to the FGJE, Isaías “N” allegedly operated an illegal loan scheme. He held the debtors’ bank cards and PINs as collateral, and then made weekly withdrawals for interest.

The Prosecutor’s Office keeps the lines of investigation open to determine if the detainees participated in other crimes and to identify more victims.

Sheinbaum requests clarification on the Agronitrogenados case

President Claudia Sheinbaum asked the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) for detailed information about the participation of Gilda Lozoya Austin—sister of the former director of Pemex, Emilio Lozoya—in the Agronitrogenados fraud. Gilda Lozoya recently obtained parole.

“I asked the Prosecutor’s Office to report in more detail the participation of this person, of Lozoya’s sister, in this fraud that was the purchase of a company, which at the time had been privatized for an amount much greater than what it was actually worth, to benefit the owner of Altos Hornos and some other people,” said the president from the National Palace.

Sheinbaum also recalled that Alonso Ancira, former president of Altos Hornos de México, has not finished paying the debt derived from that case. For this reason, the arrest warrant against him was revived. He indicated that he hopes that the FGR, headed by Ernestina Godoy, clearly explains the details of the process.

The purchase of Agronitrogenados occurred during the administration of Emilio Lozoya at Pemex. The operation was carried out for a value much higher than the real value, according to investigations. The case has been one of the most emblematic in terms of corruption in the Mexican energy sector.

President Claudia Sheinbaum reported that the works to prevent flooding in the Eastern Zone of the State of Mexico are 90% complete. They will be ready in a maximum of 15 days, just before the peak of the rainy season.

Sheinbaum highlighted the effectiveness of the work. Four of the six projects are already operating and have reduced impact times. For example, after recent rains in Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, the system evacuated a body of water in approximately an hour and a half.

Budget and key works

The director of Conagua, Efraín Morales, explained that 2.2 billion pesos of a national budget of 11.2 billion pesos are spent in the region that includes La Paz, Nezahualcóyotl and Iztapalapa.

Among the completed works are the expansion of the El Salado Lagoon (from 300 thousand to 400 thousand cubic meters), the Teotongo Collector, the Carmelo Pérez Collector and the Cárcamo de Xochiaca, which increased its pumping capacity to 16 thousand liters per second.

The pending works for the next two weeks are the Los Pinos Collector (88%) and the expansion of the Churubusco Lagoon channels (85%).

In addition, construction of the Chalco de Díaz Covarrubias Collector continues to resolve historical flooding in Chalco and Valle de Chalco. The microtunneling maneuvers have already advanced 3 kilometers and are expected to conclude in October.