The Koldo corruption case, a sprawling scandal rooted in Spain, has cast a shadow across international borders, reaching deep into Mexico’s flagship infrastructure projects. Named after Koldo García, a former advisor to Spain’s ex-Minister of Transport José Luis Ábalos, the case involves a web of bribery, influence peddling, and fraudulent contracts awarded to favored companies in exchange for kickbacks.
In Mexico, the scandal has tainted the ambitious Mayan Train project, a cornerstone of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s development agenda. Spanish firms implicated in the Koldo case—such as Acciona, AZVI, and Ineco—secured multimillion-dollar contracts for various sections of the train, often under questionable circumstances. For instance, AZVI, in partnership with Grupo Indi, was awarded the contract for Tramo 3, which ballooned from 10 billion to over 23 billion pesos amid allegations of inflated costs and phantom environmental mitigation efforts.
The corruption trail extends beyond Spain and Mexico, with a Venezuelan connection adding another layer of intrigue. Businessman Víctor de Aldama, linked to both Koldo García and Venezuelan interests, reportedly facilitated deals between Spanish companies and Mexican officials. His ties to Mexican politicians, including members of the ruling Morena party, have raised concerns about transnational collusion.
The scandal also touches other major projects like the Dos Bocas refinery and the Interoceanic Corridor, where implicated firms saw their profits surge during López Obrador’s administration. Despite mounting evidence, accountability remains elusive, with audits revealing financial irregularities but few legal consequences.
The Koldo case underscores the vulnerabilities of public procurement systems and the ease with which corruption can transcend borders, entangling governments, private firms, and intermediaries in a complex web of illicit gain.
Source: Proceso
