Who is “Nico”, the AMLO driver who the Sinaloa cartel may have given $2 million for his campaign in 2006?

Research published by ProPublica Sinaloa cartel operators injected at least $2 million into Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s campaign in 2006, seeking to curry favor with their criminal operations if the Tabasco native won. Although it cannot be shown that AMLO was aware of these contributions, it is clear that Nicholas Molinado Bastar, A person close to the current head of the executive was involved.

“Nico” – as he is known by those who are part of the fourth transformation leader’s inner circle – became famous at the time because he was the driver of the iconic Suru in which the President traveled a few years ago.

However, some journalists such as Carlos Lloret de Mola have pointed out that it is AMLO’s driver It was just a facade that made it easier for him to play his true role: one in which he always wanted to benefit the Tabasco president.

According to Tim Golden’s investigation, when Roberto Lopez Najera, the lawyer who represented Edgar Valdez Villarreal, aka “La Barbie,” was detained by DEA agents, he provided a detailed account of cash donations from drug traffickers, who Said he helped. deliver

According to the story, Nicolás Molinedo Bastar was instrumental in negotiating with drug traffickers, among them Edgar Valdez Villarreal aka “La Barbie.” The publication mentions that “Nico” was involved in obtaining monetary donations for the campaign, equivalent to 2 million dollars.

Najera secretly recorded a conversation with Nicolás Molinedo Bastar where he discussed his participation in the scheme, however, some authorities believed that the evidence was not strong enough to justify the risks of a widespread covert operation in Mexico and the issue was dropped.

The investigation did not establish whether AMLO approved or even knew about the donations reported by the drug traffickers, however, it is not the first time Nicolás Molinado’s name has come up when talking about corruption.

Nicolás Molinado Bastar served as the Morenista leader’s right-hand man for 12 years. He was the head of logistics during the 2006 and 2012 presidential campaigns.

According to information documented over many years, the biggest scandal that Molinedo is involved in was revealed at the time that this character received a salary of 63 thousand pesos per month, which was a stain on the administration. When AMLO’s JHead of Government of Mexico CityBecause his friend was paid Secretary.

But the story did not end there. After driving AMLO’s car, which at the time was a white Tsuru, in 2015 Molinado got the position of director of solid waste collection and treatment in the then Cuahtemoc delegation, while Ricardo Monreal was the representative.

In 2021, Molinado formally entered politics with the movement More for Mexicowhich he sought to integrate as a political party.

Currently, “Nico” defines himself as a businessman, lover of horses, classic and sports cars, as well as a great baseball fan, “always following the latest results and statistics of the LMB (Mexican Baseball League)”. As stated on the website, where his biography is.

“Nico” is a staunch defender of the Fourth Amendment and his son, Samuel Molinedo, is a councilor in the city council of Benito Juarez, Quintana Roo.

Another character close to “Nico” is Rafael Fernando Marin Molinedo, his cousin, currently serving as Mexico’s Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO), who was personally proposed for the post by AMLO.

A few months ago LatinU Molinedo explained how Bastar’s family benefited significantly after the project was announced Mayan train In October 2018.

Nicolas, Samuel and Isaac, sons of a former presidential driver, acquired 64 hectares of land in Quintana Roo, and positioned themselves as important landowners in an area that today is highly valued due to its proximity to Tulum Station, the aforementioned nerve center. Railway project.

These lands, which currently house the Sek Actun Tourist Park, in front of Tulum Station, promise to transform into an excellent tourist destination integrating cenotes, food areas and various services for visitors, including diving activities. The park is administered by Preservation Ecologica Sec Actun SA de CV, a company linked to Lydia Esther Portilla Manica, Nicolas’ ex-wife, and Jorge Alberto Portilla Manica, who serves as General Secretary of the Tulum City Council.

The family’s acquisition of the land was made through a donation by Cesar Augusto Manica Portilla, uncle of the beneficiaries, a few months after the official announcement of the construction of the Mayan train. With the momentum of this megaproject, tourism in the region is expected to experience significant growth, from two million to five million tourists per year once the work is completed. This perspective fuels expectations of significant appreciation of properties in the area, including the property in question, which has a current value of four million pesos, but which is expected to grow rapidly.