Mexico: Government Hack Reveals How Mexican Military Sold Weapons, Information to Mexican Drug Cartels
Mexico has recently experienced a cyber hack revealing government documents detailing how the Mexican military sold weapons and information to Mexican drug cartels.
The documents detailed that the Secretariat of National Defense or Sedena stated in its confidential report that the supplier of weapons and tactical equipment is another alleged member of the Army.
Yahoo News reported that criminals refer to the Army member as "Antiguo" and is based in Campo Military No. 1 of Mexico City based on the analysis of his telephone signal.
A security breach at Sedena conducted by a group of hackers calling itself Guacamaya acquired more than four million confidential documents from the government.
Included in the documents was an intelligence report from June 2019, stating a military officer had offered tactical equipment, other weapons, and information on armed forces operations to Mexican drug cartels.
A cartel leader allegedly asked the military for 2,000 rounds of ammunition for AK-47 rifles, 5,000 for R-15, and 150 magazines for each type of rifle.
The Mexican government report also mentioned a colonel known as the "new commander" for whom the cartel acted as an escort for about two weeks.
Mexican Military Colluding With Mexican Drug Cartels
Aside from the information about the "new commander," the report also mentioned that the military offered to collaborate with the criminals for the location of the regional prosecutor in Amecameca, according to Puerto Vallarta Daily News report.
The identity of the soldiers mentioned in the report is still unknown. However, authorities confirmed that the base of operations of the soldier linked to criminals is in the municipality of Villa de Almoloya de Juarez.
The military had also reportedly offered criminal groups' operators 70 fragmentation grenades, with the criminal cell confirming the purchase of eight of them. The purchased grenades were delivered to Atlacomulco, State of Mexico.
The leaked documents also noted that an active member of the Quick Reaction Team in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara is serving as a connection between the Jalisco Cartel leaders and authorities at the three levels.
Mexico's Government Cyber Hack
The cyber hack released more than six terabytes of confidential information that revealed criminal organizations, confidential military tasks, and personal information on Mexico's president.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had acknowledged the hack and said that "there is nothing to hide," as reported by The New York Times.
The document leaks also detailed widespread sexual assault in the armed forces, with more than 300 military personnel accused of harassment and other rights violations.
The email hack had shown the extent of the military's power and connections to protect itself from cases it was involved, such as the Ayotzinapa case.
One email detailed an appeal from the current defense minister to Lopez Obrador, wherein the minister was pleading the innocence of a low-ranking captain who is a suspect in the Ayotzinapa students' disappearance.
The leaked emails also stated the military's expansion into the economy.
READ MORE: El Chapo's Sinaloa Cartel Continues to Thrive Despite the DrugLLord's Absence: Report
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Mary Webber
WATCH: Guacamaya Leaks: Militar vende granadas en 26 mil pesos; Ejército, tras su pista - from El Universal