The mayor of Tequila, Jalisco, and two municipal officials are facing serious charges alleging a disturbing level of cartel involvement in local politics. Diego Rivera Navarro, the mayor, and his associates are accused of orchestrating the kidnapping of political rivals to manipulate the outcome of the 2021 election. The case underscores growing concerns about the influence of organized crime on Mexico’s democratic processes and the safety of political candidates, especially in regions heavily impacted by cartel activity. Authorities arrested the officials Thursday,marking a important development in an ongoing examination.
The mayor of Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico, and two municipal officials are being held on charges related to organized crime and kidnapping, authorities announced Friday. The case centers around allegations that the officials forced political rivals to withdraw from a local election.
Diego Rivera Navarro, the mayor, was arrested Thursday by federal forces and is now in preventative detention, according to a court order issued Friday in Almoloya de Juárez. He, along with Juan Manuel Pérez Sosa, the director of Public Security for Tequila, and Juan Gabriel Toribio Villareal, the municipal director of land registry, face charges of organized crime and aggravated kidnapping.
Prosecutors allege Rivera Navarro ordered the kidnapping of Guillermo Cordero García and Julio Alejandro García Gutiérrez, both candidates for the Morena party, on March 24, 2021. The alleged aim was to coerce them into dropping their candidacies, clearing the way for a candidate favored by Rivera Navarro and allegedly aligned with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
According to court documents, the three accused allegedly planned the abductions to pressure the candidates to resign, paving the way for Juan Gabriel Toribio to run, a candidate who would pledge loyalty to Rivera Navarro and the cartel. The victims were reportedly forced to sign resignation letters in the presence of a notary public allegedly working under the cartel’s control.
Rivera Navarro and Pérez Sosa are also accused of kidnapping two Tequila merchants who refused to pay extortion money, authorities said. The aggravated kidnapping charges apply specifically to the mayor and the public security director.
During Friday’s arraignment hearing, Rivera Navarro invoked his right to remain silent. His legal team requested an extension of the 72-hour legal deadline to 144 hours to determine whether charges will be formally filed. A decision on whether to proceed with the criminal case is expected by Tuesday.
The defense team for Rivera Navarro, Pérez Sosa, and Toribio Villareal requested the extended timeframe to prepare their defense. This case highlights the increasing intersection of local politics and organized crime in Mexico, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
