Why now, Manuel Espino?

Manuel Espino publicly announced that the two cartels were open to an agreement “in good faith” with AMLO. The exposé indicated that a consultation process was underway with the “cartels” to find out which of them would join the “peace process”. At first, there was no response from the president, as if he were waiting to calculate possible responses to the unusual approach of Espino, Morena’s agent, who currently had no identifiable job.

After Espino’s public confession, Minister of the Interior Adam Augusto Lopez, confirmed that he spoke with him seven to eight months ago about the alleged “plan to pacify the country.” At that time, Espino worked as the commissioner of the Federal Security Service, he resigned from this position 15 days after talking with the Minister of the Interior.

It seems that Espino has been given permission to have the freedom to probe the “peace proposal cartels” without taking it as an official proposal. Hence his resignation from his post in the federal government.

According to Espino himself, the consultation process would show that the two cartels would be ready to open a formal dialogue with the federal government. It was not established which two cartels would give their consent to such a dialogue, nor was the format or agenda of the dialogues explained. But it is clear that Espino would have talked to many other actors occupying the Mexican underworld, of whom only two would have expressed their agreement to the proposed “good faith” dialogue.

Eight months is an eternity to be able to communicate with multiple organizations and characters. The timing was set by the Home Secretary himself in his statements, when he admitted that he had discussed the matter with Espino and his noncommittal position, unwilling to answer the question of whether he had given Espino the green light for his trip. It should be understood that the Ministry of Internal Affairs gave its consent to “intelligence”.

Approximately eight months elapsed between Espino receiving the unofficial intelligence commission and his resignation as commissioner 15 days after speaking with Adan Augusto López. During this time, important changes took place on the national political scene. The case is ripe, but against the project of peace with the cartels, if such a plan really existed.

First, relations with the United States are undergoing an accelerated and dangerous deterioration. Under these circumstances, with Mexico apparently poised for an economic break with our USMCA partners due to the Q4 energy project, the price of financial stability could be extremely high. It can be foreseen that from November 9, tensions between the three countries may noticeably increase as part of the T-MEC negotiations. And the political pressure will rise in line with the requirements for the development of triangular tensions. Any news or revelations with photographs or recordings may appear in the media of these countries.

On the other hand, the revelations of the Guacamay hack will not only continue, but over time, the discrediting of the Mexican military and the López Obrador government will steadily increase. There is a version that the most scandalous is coming soon. For now, as Espino and López have spoken in internal affairs, the complicity of the interior minister with the Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartel when he was governor of Tabasco has already been exposed. And this is confirmed and confirmed by the Mexican army, and not by an “opposition journalist.” And that partnership continues to this day.

For example, the new Ayotzinapa Investigator at the time was Lopez’s cameraman, also associated with the CJNG. The same operators, all involved with organized crime in their respective states. And all this is connected with AMLO.

Manuel Espino himself has been the subject of serious allegations of drug trafficking links since his time with Vicente Fox. He was President Fox’s tour coordinator when it was discovered that his friend and compatriot Nachum Acosta Lugo was leaking information about presidential drug trafficking tours. In fact, allegations of links to drug trafficking have even reached President Alfonso Durazo’s personal secretary, now governor of Morenista Sonora. After the arrest of Naum Acosta, Espino denied any connection to drug trafficking and stated that it was Alfonso Durazo who insisted on hiring the defendants.

Today, Espino and Durazo collaborate with AMLO and Morena in a large family with hidden accomplices.

In the current context of projected political crises in the short to medium term, the inevitable question is: why is Espino now and publicly putting forward his proposal for federal government talks with drug traffickers? In principle, the proposal itself is scandalous. Why, then, is he given so much for the presidency?

One reason is that it gives President López Obrador the perfect opportunity to say that he is not negotiating with drug dealers. According to AMLO, “hugs and bullets” does not mean negotiating with criminal elements. Here is what he said: “We have defined a policy of zero corruption and zero impunity, both organized and employees…”. He added: “The border is well drawn because power is one thing and crime is another. When there is no border, as it used to be, it is chaos.”

Is it clear now? The President’s statement is an abstract answer that can mean anything, because the reality is contained in the Guacamaya documents. It clearly shows that the army has a presidential directive to allow organized crime to operate without restrictions.

Espino’s intended offer is similar to that of a player who puts the ball to another to score a goal. This allowed the president to declare that he would not negotiate with drug dealers.

Then the following question arises: why should the President clarify this issue? Are you expecting data or public information that would indicate your participation in negotiations with the cartels? Are you concerned about the consequences of a possible break with Washington?

Only time will tell us. So far, Espino continues, as always, to be a courier between two forces: the state and drug trafficking. Until, for convenience, they decide to get rid of it.

RICARDO PASCO

[email protected]
@rpascoep

MAAZ