Fmr Gov Humberto Moreira, charged with links to Los Zetas, granted bail in Spain

Lucio R.  for Borderland Beat with material from Reforma and  El Pais Espana

Spain charge Governor Moreira of having meetings with Zetas leaders

Moreira embraces wife Vanessa Guerrero upon exiting prison

The former president of the PRI, Humberto Moreira left the prison of Soto del Real and has denied having links with the criminal group "Los Zetas."

Moreover, Moreira accompanied by one of his lawyers, Ulrich Richter Morales, said that his imprisonment for alleged crimes of money laundering and bribery will not undermine the PRI. 

As for his plans now, taking into account the precautionary measures imposed by the judge Pedraz, he is  unable to leave Spain, Moreira said he will continue his graduate studies in Barcelona.

Moreira’s passport was relinquished to the court.  The prosecution has 5 days to appeal the decision.

The judge's decision opposes the request of anti-corruption prosecutors Juan Jose Rosa and Jose Grinda, who had requested unconditional prison for the president of the PRI for the alleged crimes of money laundering and integration in a criminal organization.

The indictment reveals, according to judicial sources, several meetings and meetings held with Moreira and Los Zetas leaders.

Moreira, accompanied by his wife Vanessa, departs Spanish prison (Notimex)

Additionally the indictment charges that  wire transfers to Spanish banks of more than 200,000 euros, were illicit funds from drug trafficking activities or political corruption in Mexico during his tenure as governor.

Research suggests that the president of the PRI used two companies in Spain to launder those funds, during 2013,  when he lived in  Sant Cugat del Vallés (Barcelona).

The money went from two ghost companies located in Coahuila, Unipolares  Espectaculares del Norte and Negocios Asesorías Publicidad. 

A background check on those companies reveal one is an empty home, the other a 4 bay car wash, neither could generate profits for the amount of funds wired to Moreira in 2013. 

Banks in Corpus Christi Texas, were the intermediary banking triangulation point, the funds from there were transferred to Spain.  Money was not sent directly from Mexico to Spain.

Although it is assumed that the U.S. will request Moreira’s extradition, Spain judicial sources disclosed that, at this time,  there are no requests for his extradition by the U.S. or Mexico.

So far, judicial sources say,  that Mexico and the USA have not requested his extradition.