In a press conference, Secretary of Security Omar García Harfuch indicated that a possible link between “El Limones” and Pedro Haces is not being investigated, but rather the detainee’s links with the criminal group “Los Cabrera.”
Mexico City, December 14 (However).- Omar García Harfuchholder of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC)reported that there is no investigation underway into a possible link between Edgar Rodríguez Ortiz, alias “El Limones”alleged financial operator of the criminal group “The Cabreras”y Pedro Hacesleader of the Autonomous Confederation of Workers and Employees of Mexico (CATEM).
In a press conference that took place this afternoon, the Security Secretary He pointed out that, for now, the only investigation being carried out regarding “El Limones” is for its alleged link with “Los Cabrera”, a cell linked to the Sinaloa Cartel that operates in the so-called region of The Lagoonwhich covers various municipalities in the states of Durango y Coahuila.
“The investigation began due to specific complaints about extortion that are not linked to any union, it is a direct extortion from charging businessmen, farmers for water wells, there are several crimes that are being investigated, but none are related as such to a union, or with any political link,” stated Harfuch.
“At the moment there is no relationship between the detainee and Pedro Haces,” said the head of the SSPC in response to an express question from the media, and added that the investigations into the case are recent and continue their course, so updates will continue to be provided as time passes.
Likewise, he mentioned that “El Limones” is not the only person who has been arrested in this case. “There are other detainees from this criminal cell and we are working to continue with arrests, other searches and continue with the investigation,” he said.
The arrest of “El Limones” was announced by Harfuch himself last Wednesday, December 10, through a publication on social networks where the official reported that the detainee was being investigated for alleged extortion activities against merchants and ranchers, as well as for supposedly operating the finances of the criminal organization.
According to the investigations, the Financial Intelligence Unit (IUF) indicated that it detected irregular financial movements related to extortion and fraud, which allowed it to strengthen the case against the alleged person involved.
The agency specified that, with information from the National Intelligence Center (CNI), the operation of a criminal cell dedicated to threatening and extorting merchants and ranchers was identified, for which evidence data was presented before a Control Judge, who authorized orders to intervene in various properties.
As a result, the authorities deployed coordinated actions in Coahuila and Durango, where several people were detained, including Edgar “N”, identified as the plaza boss and financial operator of the criminal group. The subject was arrested in the city of Durango.
García Harfuch explained that the capture is part of the National Strategy against Extortion instructed by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo; and confirmed the participation of the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), the Secretariat of National Defense (Defense), the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) and the Criminal Investigation Agency (AIC).
Haces denies a link with “El Limones”, but photos and videos deny it
In addition to his link with “Los Cabrera”, the detainee is also identified as the organizing secretary of the CATEM in La Laguna, a union led by Morena Deputy Pedro Haces.
After this link became known, Haces rushed to record a video to deny the links of his union organization with “El Limones”, but Internet users reminded the Morenista of a photograph in which he poses with the currently detained man, who is linked to “La Mayiza”, and which was originally published by CATEM Durango on March 20, 2023, accompanied by the following message:
“Very grateful to Senator Pedro Haces, national general secretary of CATEM, for placing his trust in me, to be the general secretary of CATEM in Durango and our colleague Edgar Ortiz as secretary of organization in the state.”
After the photograph was made known, the Facebook page of the organization in Durango, where photographs and videos of the organization’s internal meetings were documented, was taken down.
One of the videos shared on social networks shows Armando Cobián at the union headquarters with Édgar Rodríguez Limones, whom he presents to the public as organizational secretary of CATEM. Another video shows “El Limones” wearing a black shirt with the logo of the workers’ union, along with Cobián and Pedro Haces, who invites people to vote for the current President Claudia Sheinbaum.