On September 12, 2025, Hernán Bermúdez Requena, former Secretary of Public Security in Tabasco, Mexico, was arrested in Paraguay following a coordinated international operation. The arrest was carried out by Paraguayan authorities in collaboration with Mexico’s Centro Nacional de Inteligencia (CNI), Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera, and Interpol, under the directive of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s “Zero Tolerance for Corruption” initiative.
Bermúdez had been a fugitive since February 2025, when a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of criminal association, extortion, and express kidnapping. A Red Notice was issued by Interpol Mexico on July 17, 2025, enabling international tracking.
Known by aliases such as “El Abuelo” and “Comandante H”, Bermúdez is accused of being the leader of La Barredora, a criminal organization originally based in Acapulco, Guerrero. Under his leadership, La Barredora expanded into Tabasco, allegedly functioning as an operational arm of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). The group was involved in fuel theft (huachicoleo), drug trafficking, money laundering, and government corruption.
Bermúdez served as Tabasco’s security chief from 2019 to 2024, during which he allegedly used his position to shield and empower La Barredora. Intelligence reports suggest he coordinated logistics and diverted state resources to support criminal operations, including supplying stolen diesel to infrastructure projects like the Tren Maya.
His arrest marks a significant milestone in Mexico’s fight against organized crime and corruption within public institutions. Bermúdez is now in custody and expected to face trial in Mexico, where his case may implicate other political figures and deepen investigations into La Barredora’s reach.
Source: LSR
