Mexican President Gets Highly Corrupt Politician Out of Jail

Mexican Humberto Moreira (R) and his lawyer Ulrich Richter leave the Soto del Real prison outside Madrid, Jan. 22, 2016. | Photo: Reuters

Published 22 February 2016

President Enrique Peña Nieto intervened in favor of Humberto Moreira who was arrested in Spain for his alleged links with Los Zetas drug cartel and other crimes.

The Mexican government of President Enrique Peña Nieto ordered its embassy in Spain to intervene in favor of former head of the ruling PRI party and former governor of Coahuila Humberto Moreira and succeeded in pressuring authorities in Madrid to drop the investigation against him for suspicion of financial crimes and links with drug trafficking, El Pais reported on Monday.

According to the Spanish newspaper, Mexican government provided Moreira with full diplomatic aid and protection during the eight days he spent in prison.

When Moreira was arrested Jan. 15 and sent to prison without bail, Mexican Attorney General Arely Gomez immediately contacted her Spanish counterpart Consuelo Madrigal and asked her for the status of the prosecutors in the case, however the case was under secret summary.

OPINION: Mexico Controlled by Politicians Linked to Drug Trafficking

The Mexican government used its historically good relations with Spain, which are especially based on Mexico's cooperation in finding and extraditing ETA militants who were hiding in the Latin American country.

Spanish authorities were investigating Moreira in regards to his association with violent Mexican drug cartel Los Zetas, whom he betrayed betrayed by using their money to make profits for himself. Los Zetas killed his son in 2012 in retribution.

Prosecutors in Spain were unable to provide the court with conclusive evidence against the politician and he was released under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.

Moreira is believed to have financed the presidential campaign of Peña Nieto, which is why the president more than likely intervened in his favor.

The infamous politician has also been accused of embezzling state funds and causing the state's debt to skyrocket to US$35 billion. The most renowned analysts in Mexico consider him to be one of Mexico's most corrupt politicians.

At least 15 Mexican governors have faced corruption allegations since 2000, but only three were arrested, and only one remains in jail.