Six members of the Tabasco Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) allegedly linked to the criminal group La Barredora were arrested on Friday.
On Friday, October 31, 2025, the arrest of six members of the Tabasco State Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) was revealed. They are allegedly linked to the criminal organization “La Barredora.”
Sources within the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) confirmed the arrest of the six police officers, accused of participating in kidnappings.
The arrests took place at 8:00 a.m. during roll call by officers of the Olmeca Interinstitutional Tactical Reaction Force (FIRT) and the Mexican Army. The officers were informed that there were several arrest warrants against them for allegedly participating in various crimes within the department.
These arrests come a day after the arrest yesterday in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas of Leonardo Arturo, former director general of the Tabasco police, appointed to this position in 2021 by Hernán Bermúdez, who is also identified as a member of “La Barredora” in the crimes of extortion of merchants, kidnapping, drug sales and homicides.
As a consequence of this action, following the arrest of “El León,” as the former police official is also known, other individuals involved could be apprehended. Therefore, it is possible that those detained may be linked to the same line of investigation.
It should be noted that El Heraldo de Tabasco contacted the SSPC (Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection) regarding this operation, and the SSPC responded that it “has no information.”
For his part, the Deputy Attorney General for Common Crimes, Gilberto Melquiades Miranda Díaz, stated that he was unaware of the agency responsible for the officers’ arrests. However, he mentioned that he would provide details later. It is unknown whether the operations against police officers will continue.
“They’re on the run”
In this regard, José Ramiro López Obrador, Secretary of Government of Tabasco, confirmed that other criminal leaders of “La Barredora” are still at large and on the run because there are open investigations against them.
“There are still some left. There are files compiled with complaints and lawsuits filed by citizens, and they are being followed up on. There are people who have been identified and are on the run,” he stated.
Following the arrest of Hernán Bermúdez last September, the head of the Tabasco State Attorney General’s Office (FGE), Óscar Tonatiuh Vázquez Landeros, announced that the lines of investigation in the La Barredora case could lead to arrest warrants for current and former police commanders in the state.
Leonardo Arturo N., former director general of the Tabasco police, was arrested in the state of Chiapas and is identified as the regional leader of a criminal group involved in extortion of business owners, kidnapping, drug trafficking, and homicides.
This was confirmed by the Secretary of National Security, Omar García Harfuch, who emphasized that the 55-year-old detainee was the Director of the State Police in charge of riot control in 2021 during the administration of Hernán Bermúdez, who was arrested for allegedly leading the criminal group known as La Barredora.
“El León” gained notoriety during the Covid-19 pandemic when he was the coordinator of the state’s municipal police forces. During that time, he led operations—under a decree signed by then-Governor Adán Augusto López—in which he arrested people who didn’t comply with health regulations, such as the mandatory use of face masks, and dismantled or closed businesses engaged in non-essential activities.
He also participated in the implementation of the “Ley Garrote” (Gag Law), pass
Sources: El Heraldo de Tabasco, Cartel Insider, Cartel Insider
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