Zenyazen Escobar linked to waste management corruption network

Investigations into the death of former federal deputy and Veracruz former Secretary of Education, Zenyazen Escobar García, have uncovered an alleged corruption and nepotism network involving a waste management monopoly. Escobar García is linked to the control of the ‘Los Colorines’ regional sanitary landfill in Nogales, Veracruz.

Reports indicate the landfill is operated through ‘Materiales Oconit S. A. de C. V.’, a company managed by Escobar García’s daughter, Sidny Darian Escobar López, and her partner. The company secured a 15-year concession in 2023, allowing it to process between 2,000 and 2,500 tons of waste daily from over 40 municipalities in Veracruz, as well as parts of Puebla and Oaxaca.

Allegations suggest the company imposed mandatory fees of 350 pesos per ton on municipalities. Local residents and officials have also linked the business to former state environmental protection prosecutor Sergio Rodríguez Cortés. Critics claim political influence was used to centralize waste services in Nogales, creating a lucrative business while causing environmental issues, including the contamination of local water sources.