Hernán Bermúdez Requena, former Secretary of Security of Tabasco, Mexico, and suspected leader of the criminal group La Barredora linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was arrested in Paraguay as part of a major international operation against organized crime, reports 24brussels.
The capture, announced on September 12, 2025, resulted from a coordinated effort by Mexican and Paraguayan law enforcement agencies. Bermúdez, who had been a fugitive since July with an Interpol Red Notice against him, is known within the CJNG as “El Abuelo” or “Requena.” His arrest underscores the intensified international collaboration aimed at disrupting transnational crime syndicates.
Operation efforts involved agencies including Mexico’s National Intelligence Center (CNI), the Secretariat of National Defense, the Navy, the Attorney General’s Office, the National Guard, and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), under the direct orders of President Claudia Sheinbaum. Bermúdez was appointed Secretary of Security in 2019 by then-Governor Adán Augusto López Hernández, who is currently a senator with the Morena party.
Despite holding a prominent government post, investigations have alleged Bermúdez’s involvement with La Barredora, linked to drug trafficking, extortion, and express kidnapping activities in Tabasco. The Attorney General’s Office had issued an arrest warrant for him in February 2025, citing charges of criminal association and extortion, following findings from Mexicanos Contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad (MCCI) and Guacamaya Leaks.
Bermúdez’s flight from Mexico on January 26, 2025, led to an extensive international manhunt. His arrest was a significant achievement for Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch, who affirmed the government’s dedication to dismantling networks that threaten public safety. He emphasized the importance of Mexico’s new National Investigation and Intelligence System Law and close work with the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF).
The implications of Bermúdez’s alleged actions have instigated considerable political controversy, particularly given his ties to López Hernández and his previous role as Secretary of the Interior under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration from 2018 to 2024. Concerns have arisen regarding potential political cover-ups as investigations into his activities reveal a troubling integration of public officials within criminal enterprises.
In addition to extortion and kidnapping allegations, Bermúdez faces scrutiny for purported territorial control through violence, as well as involvement in fuel theft, exacerbating security challenges in southeastern Mexico. The intersection of organized crime and politics continues to provoke public outcry, with civic organizations calling for accountability and transparency in ongoing investigations.
The arrest operation has received considerable media attention, symbolizing a critical advancement in Mexico’s ongoing battle against organized crime in the face of heightened violence and corruption. Civil society stresses the need for a thorough investigation to address the pervasive impunity that has infiltrated political structures.
This case is emblematic of the necessity for collaborative efforts in combating transnational crime. The Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación’s extensive influence across Latin America requires coordinated responses that transcend national boundaries, reflecting urgent international security concerns. The collaboration between Mexico and Paraguay highlights the enhanced need for intelligence sharing and cooperative law enforcement strategies in dismantling such pervasive criminal networks.
As the region grapples with crime and instability, the spotlight remains on both national and international authorities to uphold governance and security, ensuring that recent arrests translate into effective measures against pervasive criminal influence.
