Hernán Bermúdez Requena faces formal charges for forced disappearance in Tabasco

The Tabasco State Attorney General's Office (FGE) has formally filed charges of forced disappearance against Hernán Bermúdez Requena, the former Secretary of Public Security for the state. The filing marks the conclusion of the complementary investigation stage and moves the case into the intermediate phase of the criminal process.

Bermúdez Requena, also known as ‘Comandante H’ or ‘El Abuelo,’ is alleged to be the founder and leader of the criminal group ‘La Barredora.’ Investigations suggest the group utilized state and municipal police officers to carry out illegal detentions, extortions, kidnappings, and disappearances. The prosecution seeks a sentence of up to 154 years in prison across multiple related cases, which include aggravated kidnapping, extortion, and criminal association.

Bermúdez Requena, who was extradited from Paraguay in 2025, is currently held at the ‘El Altiplano’ maximum-security prison in the State of Mexico. While the prosecution moves forward, the defendant maintains his presumption of innocence and has previously claimed the charges are a result of political persecution. The judicial process, which may include virtual hearings to connect Tabasco courts with the federal prison, is expected to reach its final stages by the end of 2026.