Gerardo Chavero Bernal, who served as the state coordinator for the Penitentiary System of Sonora, was arrested in Hermosillo just before noon on Thursday. This arrest comes on the heels of the detention of a security chief from Cereso 1, the prison from which a drug cartel leader, known as "El Ponchis" or "El Fantasma," managed to escape. Authorities suspect that Chavero's arrest is connected to his alleged involvement in this escape.
The Attorney General's Office of Sonora confirmed the execution of an arrest warrant against a high-ranking official in the state penitentiary system, later identified as Chavero Bernal. He is now at the disposal of judicial authorities, who will oversee his legal proceedings. Further information will be provided as the legal process allows.
It has been reported that the escape of "El Ponchis" likely occurred with the complicity of prison staff, as he left the facility in the company of individuals visiting family members who were imprisoned. Despite speculation regarding the circumstances of the escape, no official explanation has been provided by authorities.
The situation has led to the dismissal of at least three high-ranking officials in relation to the escape incident. These include Víctor Hugo Enríquez García, a former deputy secretary of security under Alfonso Durazo; Manuel “N”, the security chief of Cereso 1, who was also arrested on Thursday; and Chavero Bernal.
Chavero Bernal had held the position of state penitentiary coordinator since November 1 of the previous year. He brought a significant resume to the role, having previously served as a personal bodyguard for former President Ernesto Zedillo, as head of security for the Military Prison at Military Camp Number 1-A in Mexico City, and as a supervisor of security for Petróleos Mexicanos, as well as having had a role as a personal secretary for a former head of the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena).