In recent months, Tabasco—a state in southeastern Mexico—has been the scene of armed attacks, blockades, fires, and other acts of violence. Local and federal authorities have attributed this wave of insecurity to a criminal organization that was little known until recently: La Barredora.
This criminal group operates primarily in that region. Its activities include extortion and fuel theft, said Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, on July 22, when he announced the arrest of 14 people “related to extortion and extortion related to the La Barredora group” in various operations carried out in the municipalities of Cárdenas, Centro, and Cunduacán, Tabasco.
La Barredora “fractured” in December 2023, with several leaders emerging, some of whom allied themselves with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the then-Tabasco Secretary of Public Security, Víctor Hugo Chávez Martínez, stated in October 2024.
The organization has gained notoriety after the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) issued a red notice—an alert for the location and provisional arrest—against Hernán Bermúdez Requena, the former Secretary of Security of Tabasco, identified by federal authorities as the alleged founder of the criminal group.
Bermúdez Requena took office in 2019, during the administration of Adán Augusto López Hernández, current leader of the senators of the ruling Morena party and former Secretary of the Interior during the administration of then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. López Hernández said on July 18 that he was available if authorities require him as part of the investigations.
He also emphasized that during his administration in Tabasco, “we faced major security challenges and managed to substantially reduce criminal activity.”
Since November 2024, federal authorities had evidence of Bermúdez Requena’s alleged involvement in the La Barredora criminal group, García Harfuch explained at a press conference on July 22. At that time, the Tabasco Attorney General’s Office opened an investigation against him.
In February 2025, under the administration of Javier May, an arrest warrant was obtained for the alleged crimes of criminal association, extortion, and kidnapping, in addition to an Interpol red notice.
According to authorities, Bermúdez Requena left Mexico. “There are records that he left the country, from Mérida to Panama, on February 14 of this year,” said Miguel Ángel López Martínez, commander of the state’s 30th Military Zone, in an interview with Radio Fórmula Tabasco on July 12.
Bermúdez Requena obtained an injunction on July 24 to avoid detention, incommunicado detention, and even enforced disappearance, granted by the Eighth District Judge in Tabasco, Manelic Delón Vázquez.
In October 2022, Bermúdez gave an interview to the newspaper Tabasco Hoy, in which he rejected accusations of alleged ties to criminal groups. He asserted at the time that he was unaware of any investigation against him and stated that “La Barredora” was dismantled after the capture of its leaders. He even said that no criminal group operated in the state.
CNN has attempted to locate their lawyers, so far without success.
The Detained Leaders
La Barredora’s criminal structure has suffered several blows against its alleged leaders this year. Francisco Javier “N,” alias “El Guasón,” one of its main operatives, along with another leader, Edson Adair “N,” alias “Zavala,” and six other members were arrested, according to data from the Federal Public Security Secretariat.
On July 23, Ulises Pinto Madera, alias “Pinto” or “El Mamado,” identified as one of its leaders, was arrested. García Harfuch reported that Pinto Madera faced charges of criminal association and was linked to extortion, kidnapping, drug trafficking, and fuel theft—illegal activities related to fuel.
A day later, at Pinto Madera’s request, a federal court granted him a suspension to avoid ill-treatment, torture, or being held incommunicado. However, the request for an injunction was not upheld, and on July 25, a judge rescinded it. So far, no public statements have been made by the detainee.
CNN has attempted to locate the detainees’ lawyers, but has been unsuccessful.
As part of the actions against this group, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) blocked bank accounts belonging to Bermúdez Requena, as well as those of his associates, family members, and related companies. In addition, the Ministry of the Interior suspended the activities of betting houses in Tabasco “linked to relatives” of the former official.
Source: cnnespanol
