Tabasco State Police Sound Off on Crimes and Severe Mistrust Within the State

 ”Enojon” and “Char” for Borderland Beat

Around November 18th, a video communication would circulate through social media where alleged officers of the ‘Reaction Group’ Unit of the Secretariat of Public Security and Safety of Tabasco (SSPC) would urge the President of Mexico–Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo–to investigate the security entity for alleged links to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

The speaker would claim that Hugo Chavez Martinez, the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, and Alfredo Gutierrez Rozado, Commissioner of the Tabasco State Police, had been previously–or are actively linked to CJNG. However, this relationship had soured for undisclosed reasons and that trust within the security entity has crumbled. This was after alleged robberies and killings carried out by fellow officers under the orders of Commissioner Rozado, but with it under the guise of being ordered by Adán Augusto López Hernández, the Governor of Tabasco. 

A translation is as follows:

“Ms.President,

 First of all, good afternoon in Tabasco they killed a partner of ours, a group that works for the Secretary General Mr. Hugo Chavez Martinez and the Commissioner with the name Colonel of Infantry of the General Staff Alfredo Gutierrez Rozado. We want to make it clear that they used to or are [actively] collaborating with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, but from what we have seen it’s gone bad. 

Where they said to go we would go. We are the ‘Reaction Team’ [but] those of the Agency are the ones who rob and kill by orders of the Commissioner who states it is the orders of the Governor…now that they are killing we see things are not going well. We don’t have a [relationship] with the Secretary anymore, but [we are still working together] because this is our orders. She says it’s an order–but we don’t believe that. 

They say that General Mora is a very dear friend of the Secretary, but where do we send our proof of the places we’ve been to and the things we’ve done? We have raised our voices in disapproval because we have families and we like our jobs, but killing the personnel of another group will only bring [turmoil]. Check the cameras [to see] everything that is stolen; they are in safe houses, of which we want to anonymously show like the one in…all the trucks…Military [personnel] have stopped them, why do they let them go? We want answers and for the Governor to do something.”

While it’s unclear as to what officer’s death they’re referring to around 10 police officers have been killed in 2024 during various incidents with members of criminal organizations. Data published by Causa en Común, a joint effort between the ‘Ciudadanos por una causa en común AC’ and ‘Horizonte y Oportunidad AC’ organizations, would report the killing of 10 Police Officers from June 21st to November 11th while the security entity faces a violent conflict between the ‘La Barredora’ and the ‘Jalisco New Generation Cartel’ (CJNG) as they dispute the following municipalities: 

• Teapa
• Macuspana
• Tenosique
• Emiliano Zapata
• Centro
• Nacajuca
• Centla
• Comalcalco 
• Paraíso
• Jalpa de Méndez

A translation is as follows: 

“Good afternoon Mr.President, 

We are officers of the Tabasco State Police and we want to let you know that the Secretary named General Brigadier Víctor Hugo Chávez Martínez and the Commissioner Colonel Alfredo Gutiérrez Rosado stated that by the orders of the Governor and you Mr.President, [that] we have to disappear everyone they choose and that the state has to be cleaned by superior orders. 

They’ve taken us to different family homes and we’ve found nothing, but we are still ordered to detain them to subsequently plant drugs and firearms. That the commissioner in collaboration with the Agency and Directors say it’s an order. In addition, we’ve taken detainees and placed them at the disposal of the Agency, who sometimes do not even know what [the detainees] did. 

Likewise, they’ve referred to us [officers] who will kill those who speak out. We have seen officers who have been killed while out on their rest and we don’t want that to keep happening. In the same fashion they tell us to cover the numbers on patrol vehicles, and to remove the license plates on vehicles for supposed operations which are illegal, as no search warrant provided in part by the Prosecutor’s Office. 

We no longer want to work for the Secretary, and the Commissioner makes us meet with armed individuals who are not part of any [law enforcement] to afterwards go where they tell us to go—and where we go is just to [hurt] the people. This [place] was in peace [but] as they say, who needs to fall will fall, it’s an order from above. 

But, we know Mr.President that you did not give that order. If they are doing this and we have proof of who they are–we have them, but they won’t present themselves as their families are looking for them. 

We hope our call reaches the ears of the President to stop such corruption because protecting is our duty.“ 

Although, suspicions would arise regarding the credibility of the message and figures in uniform. On March 11th, an operation was conducted against a safe house located in the La Venta community of Villahermosa, Tabasco as part of a campaign against organized crime in the region. As of January 5th in coordination with personnel of the Mexican Military, National Guard, and along with the State and Federal Attorney General’s Office where among the seized items would be tactical equipment and uniforms adorned with what appear to be the emblem of the SSPC. This would cast doubt as to whether the masked individuals were indeed officers or criminal figures attempting to further spread disinformation and distrust among an already shaken relationship between the people and local authorities.

Sources: Hyperlinked In Text

Source: https://www.borderlandbeat.com/2024/12/tabasco-state-police-sound-off-on.html