MEXICO. - Edgar Valdez Villarreal a.k.a "La Barbie" was arrested in 2010 by Mexican authorities due to his criminal activity with drug cartels in Mexico, and today through a letter that he sent to "Grupo Reforma", he made a public complaint against Mexican authorities and a group of individuals including President Felipe Calderon, where he claims of certain deals that they made with some criminals.

Valdez in his letter highlights the following: "I want to state first that I did not welcome the witness protection program, and in the same manner deny the accusations and statements that my captors have made regarding the way I was arrested, and that the truth of the matter is this: my arrest was the result of political persecution by the Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, who initiated a harassment campaign against me because I refused to be part of an agreement that Mr. Calderon Hinojosa desired with all organized crime groups, for which he personally arranged several meetings with these criminal groups.

Soon after, meetings were carried out through General Mario Arturo Acosta Chaparro, who met on the orders of the President and Juan Camilo Mouriño, along with two of the leaders of the "Familia Michoacana." Then the General met with Heriberto Lazcano and Miguel Angel Trevino "Z-40" in Matamoros. Later, Acosta Chaparro and Mouriño met with Arturo Beltran Leyva, "El Barbas", and also met with 'El Chapo' Guzman leader of the Sinaloa cartel."

In the paragraphs that follow in his letter, "La Barbie" explains details of his arrest which are different from the "official version" presented by authorities.

In his letter he clarifies that due to him refusing to make deals with authorities and other criminal groups, they initiated an intense manhunt against him which led to his arrest.

Valdez added that Genaro Garcia Luna, who is the head of the Ministry of Public Security, had received money from him and other drug traffickers.

For the full text click here (it's on spanish).

Since his arrest on August 30, 2010, Edgar Valdez Villarreal is still currently serving his sentence at the maximum security prison in the State of Mexico.

According to his letter, the web of corruption that he just made a claim about has existed for 10 years.This news comes just 2 days before the change of power in government between Felipe Calderon and Enrique Peña Nieto in Mexico.

Brenda.Colon@sandiegored.com

Translation : Omar.Martinez@sandiegored.com