Spanish authorities re-opened a money laundering probe targeting the former governor of a Mexican border state who was linked to Los Zetas Cartel in U.S. federal court cases.
The probe resumed against Humberto Moreira, the former governor of Coahuila and chairman of Mexico’s previous ruling party, the Revolutionary Institutional Party (PRI), Revista Proceso reported. Soon after, Humberto Moreira issued a public statement claiming the allegations were made by two witnesses who are working with prosecutors to save themselves.
During Moreira’s term in office, Los Zetas were able to set roots in Coahuila and expand their territory through brutal means with the help of corrupt officials, Breitbart News reported. Witnesses in Texas indicated the Los Zetas received protection from Moreira and his government in exchange for bribes.
Spanish Judge Santiago Pedraz ordered that the case re-opened after two witnesses in Texas spoke with Spanish investigators, Proceso reported. Moreira served as governor of Coahuila from 2005 to 2011 and then led the PRI in 2011. After his time with the PRI, Moreira moved to Spain where suspicions arose regarding his finances.
He was initially arrested in 2016 for money laundering, embezzlement and organized criminal activity charges, Breitbart News reported at the time. After spending several days in jail, Moreira was released and the case was closed by Spanish authorities.
Moreira is one of several former governors linked in U.S. court cases to cartels. While Moreira has not been criminally charged, former Tamaulipas Governor Tomas Yarrington is in a U.S. jail awaiting trial on drug conspiracy and money laundering charges. Eugenio Hernandez, another former governor from Tamaulipas, remains in jail in his home state and is fighting extradition to Texas to face money laundering charges.
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist with Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and Stephen K. Bannon. You can follow him on Twitter and on Facebook. He can be contacted at Iortiz@breitbart.com.
Brandon Darby is the managing director and editor-in-chief of Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Cartel Chronicles project with Ildefonso Ortiz and Stephen K. Bannon. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. He can be contacted at bdarby@breitbart.com.
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