FGR Acknowledges Evidence Contamination at Properties Where El Mencho's Narco Payroll Was Discovered

The Mexican Attorney General's Office (FGR) publicly justified why it was unable to properly safeguard seized properties where documentary evidence of El Mencho's financial operations — including a narconómina (cartel payroll ledger) — was discovered following the February 22 operation. Officials stated that 'no había condiciones para resguardar los inmuebles' (there were no conditions to secure the properties), raising concerns about evidence integrity in the case against CJNG's remaining senior leadership. The discovery of a narconómina is significant: such documents typically contain coded identities of cartel members, corrupt officials on the payroll, and logistics contractors — intelligence gold for prosecutors and law enforcement. If the evidence was contaminated, key leads may be unusable in court. Opposition legislators and anti-corruption organizations have demanded a formal investigation into who had access to the properties between the operation and the FGR's arrival, and whether evidence was removed. The contamination controversy follows earlier reports that the scene of El Mencho's killing in Tapalpa had also been altered.