Mexico President Pledges to Root Out Corruption at Segalmex, Strengthening Food Security

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has pledged to address cases of fraud and corruption within Segalmex, a government organization tasked with promoting food self-sufficiency in the agricultural sector.

Segalmex, established by President López Obrador, has recently been the subject of numerous corruption allegations, resulting in several former employees being arrested by the Attorney General's Office (FGR) on charges ranging from embezzlement to organized crime.

During a regular press conference, President López Obrador described the corruption at Segalmex as the most egregious case his administration has encountered thus far. According to officials, approximately 9.5 billion pesos (USD555.75 million) were misappropriated by the organization since 2019. However, this figure remains preliminary as an ongoing investigation is still underway.

Fighting corruption has been a central focus of President López Obrador's tenure. His political party, the leftist National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), is currently engaged in selecting its candidate for the upcoming 2024 presidential election. Mexican law prohibits presidents from seeking re-election, making this selection process crucial for the party's future.

The allegations against Segalmex include the use of public funds for undocumented goods and services. In an attempt to prevent scrutiny, agency employees allegedly concealed invoices to deter complaints. As of now, 87 individuals have been charged in connection with the case, with 41 of them being former public servants. The investigation into these matters is still ongoing.

President López Obrador emphasized his administration's zero-tolerance policy toward corruption and impunity. He expressed his commitment to rectifying the situation and ensuring that those involved in fraudulent activities face appropriate consequences.