Tabasco to maintain security operations despite threatening banners

Reporting and context

Tabasco will keep its security strategy despite threatening banners aimed at authorities, state Security and Citizen Protection Secretary Alejandro Leal López said, according to Infobae México. He attributed the messages to pressure on criminal groups from continuing operations and said the threats would not change those operations.

Infobae México reported that prosecutors have opened an investigation into the banners. Leal López gave no details about its progress or who placed them. Asked about a person whom reporters described as detained and possibly linked to the messages, he left that question to prosecutors and did not confirm the person's legal status. He said he would cooperate with investigators.

The banners appeared early on November 7, 2026, in Villahermosa and surrounding communities. They contained accusations of corruption, collusion and betrayal against officials and security commanders, with messages directed at President Claudia Sheinbaum, Governor Javier May Rodríguez and federal Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch. The accusations came from the banners' authors.

The messages also referred to disputes over criminal territory in Macuspana and bore the signatures “El 88,” “Señor 88” and “El 11.” Reports cited by Infobae attributed them to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, but authorities had not authenticated the signatures or identified those responsible for placing the banners.

The report described earlier threats against Tabasco officials, including at least three banners found at Villahermosa schools on November 7, 2024, aimed at May. A separate banner threatening then-security secretary Serafín Tadeo Lazcano at a Comalcalco repair shop led to an investigation confirmed on September 20, 2025.