PAN Denounces Adán Augusto for Links to Drug Trafficking: The Bomb Drops

The National Action Party (PAN) has filed a formal criminal complaint against Morena Senator Adán Augusto López Hernández for alleged ties to the criminal group "La Barredora" during his tenure as governor of Tabasco, sparking a national political storm.

Mexican politics were shaken this July 25, 2025, by the confirmation that the National Action Party (PAN) filed a criminal complaint with the Attorney General's Office (FGR) against Adán Augusto López Hernández, current coordinator of the Morena party in the Senate and one of the most prominent figures of the Fourth Transformation. The central accusation: alleged ties to the criminal organization "La Barredora" and organized crime and operations with illicit proceeds, allegedly committed while he served as governor of Tabasco.

The complaint, led by the vice-coordinator of the PAN deputies, Noemí Luna, and the party's national leader, Jorge Romero, demands not only a thorough investigation but also the immediate resignation of López Hernández from his seat and from the coordination of his party while the facts are clarified.

At the center of the scandal is Hernán Bermúdez Requena, former Secretary of Public Security of Tabasco during the administration of Adán Augusto López. Bermúdez is currently a fugitive from justice, accused of protecting and collaborating with "La Barredora," a criminal group accused of fuel theft, extortion, and drug trafficking in the region.

According to the PAN's complaint, Adán Augusto López not only appointed Bermúdez, but also kept him in office despite alleged warnings from the Ministry of National Defense (Sedena) since 2019, revealed in the "Guacamaya Leaks" hacks, which already pointed to the former official's ties to organized crime.

"Adán Augusto López can't say he was surprised or unaware that his former secretary is a narco-politician. It didn't help the senator to hide from public scrutiny for a week," said Representative Noemí Luna.

After days of silence, Adán Augusto López reappeared publicly and called the accusations "politicking." Speaking to the media, the senator denied any knowledge of his former secretary's illicit activities. "There's a lot of politicking involved in all of this. I already released figures showing how crime significantly decreased during the two years and eight months I was governor," he stated.

During the Morena National Council, he received the support of his party with the slogan "You are not alone!", a gesture intended to close ranks in the face of what they consider a coordinated political attack by the opposition.

Despite public support, the case has generated concern and fissures within the ruling party. Senators from Morena have privately expressed concern about the political cost of the scandal, especially the lack of a more forceful response from López Hernández.

President Claudia Sheinbaum has spoken out on the issue, assuring that her government will not cover up for anyone. "We have said it, we are not going to cover up for any criminal," she stated, distancing herself from the case but without directly condemning her party colleague.

Political analysts point to this scandal as a turning point for Morena, comparing it to the cases of Genaro García Luna and former President Felipe Calderón. The opposition has taken advantage of the opportunity to question the ruling party's anti-corruption campaign.

The PAN's complaint opens a legal front that the Attorney General's Office (FGR) will have to investigate. Meanwhile, the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) has already frozen the accounts of Hernán Bermúdez and his associates.

Politically, the case tests the cohesion of Morena and President Sheinbaum's ability to handle a crisis that directly affects one of the pillars of her movement. The opposition's demand for a special investigative commission in Congress and media pressure will keep the issue at the center of the national agenda in the coming weeks, with implications that could affect governability and the presidential succession in 2030.