Morelos Mayor Video-Tapes Himself Being Extorted by Los Rojos

Translated by Yaqui for Borderland Beat from Zocolo

Jorge Toledo Bustamante
Alcalde of the Municipality of Mazatepec, Morelos

Date: Aug 21, 2017

A video shows the moment when suspected members of the Mexican cartel "Los Rojos" forced the mayor of the municipality of Mazatepec, Morelos, Jorge Toledo Bustamante, to commit to the delivery of 5 million pesos ($ 270,000 USD) as payment for piso, aka right to the plaza. 

They also demanded the official to hire a person "who knows what he is doing" to be a liaison between the criminal group and the municipal administration. 

Toledo basically refuses to pay and even ensures that he will give up his position first. He explains that he was forced to reduce his salary in half because in the municipality there is no money, so he asks his interlocutor, to tell his "boss" that he wants to talk to him.

"Remind your boss that I treated him well when he was in detention, when I was the  prison director between 2006-2012 and that I gave him access to all facilities", said the mayor to the criminals. "Tell him that even this time I went to talk to his father. I want to talk to him again. I had asked to pay only 5,000 Pesos." Toledo Bustamante repeated. 

During the conversation, the representative of the criminal group realizes that in the front pocket of his pants, the mayor has a cell phone. When he takes it off of Bustamante and sees the messages, he begins to insult him. "Trying to tie me to this ? Get down on the ground. Get down to the ground right now, because I'll fuck you right now, eh?" 

Bustamante was then forced to lie down because apparently he was indeed recording the conversation. The video was leaked through Facebook and then began to spread by other social networks such as Twitter. 

Once  he had submitted, the mayor accepts the conditions of the criminal group: "We will cooperate on  what I can make possible, but you communicate with him." 

"Are you saying it honestly? Are you saying it honestly? Because if you cheat us you will not get the money to bury any of  your family or  your family tree," the Los Rojos narcos tell him. 

Finally, the municipal president assures him that "he will do what he can," but insists on talking to the criminal boss.

"He's called you several times and you have not answered," the narco  warns. "I've been very busy,"  says Bustamante. "Don't screw with me, busy? It wasn't going to take you five minutes, what a sorry excuse," says the envoy in a threatening tone. 

"Look, Toledo, the man considers you a friend, he does consider you a friend, and he respects you because you give your word. However, if you are going to walk with the government, and you will not support us, you will not even get  the five million pesos you are asking to bury all your family," threatens the masked man.

In Mexico, mayors are continuously victims of extortion and attacks by organized crime.

The National Association of Mayors (ANAC) reported that between 2006 and August 2016, 36 former mayors, 7 elected mayors and 43 deputies were killed, a total of 86. 

Los Rojos is one of the leading criminal groups operating in the State of Guerrero, and more recently in Morelos. They are disputing territories with other local drug cartels in the region. 

So far, the mayor has not made any statement regarding the video.

However, as of one hour ago the FGE, Fiscalia General of the State, Perez Duron says he will open an immediate investigation into the case. He invites citizen participation, public servants and all authorities to present any and all denouncements if they have been intimidated or victimized by similar actions.