EXCLUSIVE: Border State Labor Union Gunmen Tied to Mexican President’s Party
A dangerous leader with Los Zetas cartel is reportedly protecting a union tied to the party founded by Mexico’ President. The struggle comes as two labor unions engaged in rioting, shootings, and threats during a fight for a construction contract in the Mexican border state of Nuevo Leon.
The discovery took place this week when state authorities in Nuevo Leon seized multiple guns and arrested five henchmen led by the convicted narco-politician Jesus Manuel “El Lic. Meme” Santiago Rodriguez. Santiago Rodriguez is a regional political figure with a long history as a member of Los Zetas cartel.
The case is tied to a series of ongoing fistfights, threats, and a shooting between members of the labor union CATEM (tied to the MORENA party) and a rival union CTM (tied to the PRI party). The tensions are tied to lucrative contracts related to the construction of Presa Libertad or Liberty Dam between the cities of Montemorelos and Linares.
For over a week, Fuerza Civil state police forces increased patrols on the construction site as the two unions clashed in various fistfights. Those fights escalated into a shooting Friday morning when state authorities responded to a call of shots fired. During their response, the state police inspected a Chevrolet Suburban with Nuevo Leon license plates 809ZST. Inside that vehicle, they found a rifle and two handguns. They then arrested El Lic. Meme and five of his henchmen.
Breitbart Texas consulted with U.S. law enforcement sources operating in Mexico who revealed that the man known as El Lic. Meme is considered to be a very dangerous politician. His long criminal history spans more than ten years with Los Zetas. At one time, Santiago Rodriguez (Meme) was a councilman in the city of Apodaca who opened the door to the dangerous cartel and was arrested in 2010 during a military raid with various firearms, a stolen SUV, and cocaine.
Just two years later the man known as Lic. Meme took part in a massive prison breakout where more than 30 members of Los Zetas escaped from the Apodaca state prison. The breakout took place shortly after dozens of Los Zetas ambushed and killed 44 members of the Gulf Cartel inside the prison compound.
By 2015, authorities arrested El Lic Meme during another labor union fight inside a building owned by the CROC union in downtown Monterrey. At the time of that arrest, authorities also took into custody a controversial cartel-linked attorney and labor leader — Ricardo Castillo Gamboa.
It remains unclear when and how Santiago Rodriguez regained his freedom. However, the man known as El Lic Meme appears to have returned to his controversial practices involving politically connected labor unions. This time, Santiago Rodriguez is working with the CATEM, a labor union that has sided with Mexico’s Morena Party, the political group started by current President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
The labor union riot, shooting, and arrests took key relevance this week while Lopez Obrador was visiting Monterrey. CATEM’s local leader Alfonso Olivares publicly denied any incident took place despite the arrest record and other law enforcement information shared to Breitbart Texas by U.S. law enforcement sources operating in Mexico.
Gerald “Tony” Aranda is a contributing writer for Breitbart Texas.
Mexican President Tests Positive for COVID-19
Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador confirmed he tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). He said he will take a step back from his usual duties. The announcement comes at a time when Mexico is undergoing an alarming spike in infections and fatalities.
Through his social media accounts, President Lopez Obrador (AMLO) announced he tested positive for the virus but appeared to have mild symptoms. During his announcement, the president said Mexican Secretary of the Interior Olga Sanchez Cordero would be taking his place during his daily morning news conferences. He said he would still try to stay on top of things from the National Palace.
Lamento informarles que estoy contagiado de COVID-19. Los síntomas son leves pero ya estoy en tratamiento médico. Como siempre, soy optimista. Saldremos adelante todos. Me representará la Dra. Olga Sánchez Cordero en las mañaneras para informar como lo hacemos todos los días.
— Andrés Manuel (@lopezobrador_) January 25, 2021
Despite dealing with the virus, AMLO is expected to have a phone conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin to look into having Mexico receive the Sputnik V vaccine. Mexico is dealing with a shortage of vaccines despite government promises that they would be readily available.
Yo estaré pendiente de los asuntos públicos desde Palacio Nacional. Por ejemplo, mañana atenderé una llamada con el presidente Vladimir Putin porque, independientemente de las relaciones de amistad, existe la posibilidad de que nos envíen la vacuna Sputnik V.
— Andrés Manuel (@lopezobrador_) January 25, 2021
The social media announcement was widely shared in Mexico where many political figures, as well as average users, wished him a speedy recovery. However, just as many messages wished the opposite. These messages caused Twitter to issue a message in Spanish warning of action against bullying and those wishing ill on the sick.
Nuestra política contra el comportamiento abusivo señala, entre otras cosas, que no toleramos contenido que promueva, incite o exprese el deseo o esperanza de que una persona o grupo de personas se mueran, sufran daños físicos graves o se vean afectados por enfermedades severas.
— Twitter Seguro (@TwitterSeguro) January 25, 2021
The news of AMLO becoming infected comes at a time when Mexico has seen a sharp increase in the spread of the virus — largely attributed to holiday parties. According to the most recent figures from Mexico’s Health Secretariat, the country currently has 1,763,219 confirmed cases and 146,614 fatalities.
Nuestra política contra el comportamiento abusivo señala, entre otras cosas, que no toleramos contenido que promueva, incite o exprese el deseo o esperanza de que una persona o grupo de personas se mueran, sufran daños físicos graves o se vean afectados por enfermedades severas.
— Twitter Seguro (@TwitterSeguro) January 25, 2021
Almost since the start of the pandemic, Mexico’s government has been widely accused of limiting access to testing as a way to artificially report fewer cases in comparison to other nations. Mexico has also been accused of undercounting the number of deaths — a practice that has been questioned by international health experts.
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist with Breitbart Texas. He co-founded Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and senior Breitbart management. 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 Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles project with Ildefonso Ortiz and senior Breitbart management. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. He can be contacted at bdarby@breitbart.com.
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