Growing US pressure on Mexican political figures allegedly linked to drug trafficking has raised red flags in former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s inner circle.
According to a new column by journalist Raymundo Riva Palacio, published in El Financiero, the former president is particularly concerned about the possibility that his sons, Andrés Manuel López Beltrán, known as “Andy,” and José Ramón López Beltrán, may be on a US government hit list.
This alleged list, comprised of at least 300 people—including politicians, businessmen, artists, and athletes—is reportedly being compiled by various US security agencies, such as the DEA, the State Department, and the National Security Council. It is believed to focus on individuals with alleged ties to organized crime or who have promoted policies contrary to Washington’s interests.
According to Riva Palacio, Andy López Beltrán—Morena’s Organization Secretary and a key figure in the structure of the party founded by his father—is said to have expressed the greatest concern about the actions of the United States government, fearing he may be included on this list of alleged “narco-politicians.”
The columnist points out that, according to high-level sources, there is also concern about José Ramón López Beltrán, who has resided in Monterrey in recent years. In this context, López Obrador reportedly suggested that his son move to the south of the country, where the Obrador party has greater political support and could count on the protection of sympathetic governors.
The US list: a classified document with political repercussions
Riva Palacio points out that the US government is keeping the names on this list of 300 Mexicans confidential, which has generated uncertainty both within the presidency and within Morena.
Officials and legislators from the ruling party have even reportedly suspended trips to the United States for fear of sanctions similar to those imposed on Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila, whose visa was revoked.
According to reports, this list was compiled by at least three different sources: one from the White House headed by Anthony Salisbury, another by former DEA agents, and a third by the State Department.
Although there is no official confirmation yet, Washington’s actions are already affecting the political agendas of key figures in the ruling party.
AMLO is also reportedly under investigation in the US
López Obrador’s concern for his children comes amid growing allegations of possible investigations against him.
According to Riva Palacio, the former president is being investigated for at least two cases in Brooklyn, as well as indirectly by the CIA from Langley, in relation to alleged ties to the Sinaloa Cartel and other criminal organizations.
Furthermore, media outlets such as The New York Times, ProPublica, and The Spectator have documented, since 2024, previous investigations pointing to alleged drug trafficking support for López Obrador’s campaigns since 2006, including references to his children.
Although the former president at the time dismissed these revelations as slander, the issue has regained momentum following Ovidio Guzmán’s recent guilty plea in Chicago.
The son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán pleaded guilty to four drug trafficking-related charges and agreed to cooperate with US authorities, which could lead to the opening of new investigations against Mexican political figures.
As part of the agreement, Ovidio could provide information on networks of collusion between cartels and Mexican politicians.
According to international media reports, the US Attorney’s Office could use this collaboration to follow up on investigations already initiated against governors, officials, and even former Mexican presidents.
The situation has generated a political crisis for Claudia Sheinbaum, who has come out in defense of López Obrador, which has led to a media conflict with Ovidio’s lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman.
Fear of the 4T: Who else is in the spotlight?
The scandal over the alleged list of “narco-politicians” has caused a wave of anxiety in the Morena party.
Riva Palacio mentions that figures such as Ricardo Monreal have already shown signs of political withdrawal, while other actors have chosen to limit their presence in the United States.
In addition to Marina del Pilar, other governors such as Alfonso Durazo, Américo Villarreal, and Cuauhtémoc Blanco have been mentioned in investigations or news reports as possible targets of Washington.
The uncertainty surrounding the list, and the fear that it might include AMLO’s children, has extended tensions to Palenque, where the former president has resided since the end of his term.
Is Morena under threat?
The bilateral tension has also led to speculation about whether the United States could declare Morena a criminal or even narco-terrorist organization.
As documented in Politico MX, academics such as Ghaleb Krame have pointed out that there are legal mechanisms in the United States for a possible designation under the terms of Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) or Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
Although there have been no official statements on the matter yet, the context of increasing surveillance by the US government keeps the issue on the diplomatic agenda.
Meanwhile, the investigations continue to advance, and concern among López Obrador’s inner circle is growing.
Source: politico
