Oaxaca Governor Sparks Controversy by Admitting Municipal Officials Use Seized Vehicles
OAXACA, Mexico — Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara Cruz has triggered widespread public backlash after openly admitting that municipal administrators and government officials routinely use seized vehicles—some of which have active reports of being stolen.
The political storm erupted after reports emerged that a vehicle operating under a municipal commissioner in Mazatlán Villa de Flores was actually a confiscated taxi with a report of theft. The vehicle had reportedly been repainted and reassigned to the official.
Rather than denying the allegations, Governor Jara confirmed during a press conference that the practice of assigning impounded and seized vehicles to municipal authorities is widespread.
“There are several; Mazatlán is not the only one that had this vehicle,” Jara stated. He minimized the ethical concerns, explaining that he personally requests these “loans” of seized vehicles directly from the State Attorney General to support resource-strapped municipalities that lack transport budgets.
Jara justified the decision by arguing that it is better to put the vehicles to public use than to let them “rot in government impound lots.”
The governor’s comments have drawn sharp criticism from legal experts and citizens alike. Under Mexican law, impounded vehicles are still considered private property undergoing legal resolution. Reassigning them to government staff—before a definitive judicial ruling is made—violates due process, property rights, and proper chain-of-custody protocols.
In a move to deflect the growing controversy, Governor Jara subsequently announced the launch of a state institute to officially manage goods seized from crime and corruption, promising a public registry of recovered vehicles. Critics, however, argue that using citizens’ stolen property as government perks reflects a deep-seated lack of institutional transparency and accountability.
The following video provides further commentary on the controversial logic used by the state’s administration regarding these seized assets:
Source: Right Now
