Hernán Bermúdez Requena, a former high-ranking security official in the Mexican state of Tabasco, known as “Commander H,” is a fugitive from justice accused of leading the criminal group La Barredora, linked to drug trafficking, fuel theft, and human trafficking. According to investigative reports, Bermúdez maintained a long-standing political alliance with Senator Adán Augusto López Hernández, former governor of Tabasco and current president of the Senate’s Political Coordination Board.
Bermúdez held various positions in six state administrations, eventually becoming Secretary of Public Security of Tabasco during the López Hernández administration. Intelligence leaks and journalistic investigations have alleged that Bermúdez oversaw the creation of La Barredora as a covert force aimed at confronting organized crime rivals, particularly a criminal known as “El Kalimba.” The group’s first reported operation in 2020 involved Kalimba’s execution, allegedly in retaliation for the murder of a close associate of the governor. According to security analyst Jacinto López Cruz, La Barredora soon grew into a powerful criminal cell, eventually turning against state forces and expanding into Tabasco.
Despite internal warnings and leaked intelligence reports, Bermúdez remained in office until internal divisions and public violence forced him to resign. Mexican authorities have since issued an arrest warrant, and he is a fugitive.
