“I’ll Give You 50,000 Pesos A Month”: Criminals Attempt To Bribe Police Commanders In Zacatecas

Police forces in Zacatecas are on high alert because suspected organized crime members have offered up to 50,000 pesos to municipal commanders in exchange for impunity and permission to operate within their jurisdictions. 

Who is saying this? The State Secretary of Public Security, Arturo Medina Mayoral—there in Zacatecas, where the President happens to be right now. The press conference has concluded, but the President was there alongside Governor David Monreal. 

So, what does State Security Secretary Arturo Medina Mayoral say? He states that the refusal of these bribes has triggered armed attacks against officers—including a car-bomb attack in Ojo Caliente—and he revealed how these threats are carried out. 

We even have screenshots where they tell him, “Hey, how much do you want? I’ll give you 25,000 pesos a month, I’ll give you 50,000 pesos a month; just let me in, let me carry out my activities.” And—[sigh]—the directors report to me—they’ve informed me—and show me what is being said to them and how they reply, right? 

They come to work saying, “Let me confront the cartels.” Well, we don’t see them first because we don’t let them through; we are in the middle. But they say, “No, I’m going to confront the cartel.” They don’t want to attack *us*; they come after us. 

Well, the prosecutor says there is only one person detained. You’ll recall we were told that the previous Saturday—an 18-year-old was detained… sorry, a single person was detained the previous Saturday, an 18-year-old. 

And there is one person who remains injured. Yes, a male; he remains hospitalized. His health is improving; his condition has moved from critical to intermediate care, and he is showing signs of a speedy recovery. 

Regarding the 23 attacks involving explosives that have occurred this year, we have maintained coordination—as the Secretary reported—and have managed to arrest the majority of the perpetrators; in this specific explosion, three people have been detained. 

Of those 23 incidents, we have identified six cases where vehicles containing explosives were used. Around 200 kg of explosive material were used in this attack. We just heard from the Secretary of Security, Omar García Harfuch. 200 kg of explosive material were used in the car-bomb attack against the municipal police headquarters in Ojocaliente, Zacatecas. 

The Secretary stated this during a press conference in that state and also revealed the first official estimate regarding the quantity of explosives used in the August 30th attack. 

He says… …that several people have been arrested in connection with these events, and that at 7:50 PM, this explosive device—placed inside a vehicle previously reported stolen in Jalisco—was detonated. Eleven people were injured, including members of the municipal police force and some…

Source: Grupo Fórmula