The governor of Oaxaca, Salomón Jara Cruz, sparked public outrage this Monday by openly acknowledging that he has requested stolen vehicles seized by the state’s Attorney General’s Office to be handed over for official use by municipal authorities. This admission comes amid growing accusations that cars confiscated for theft are being repurposed for government use, raising serious questions about legality and transparency.

The controversy escalated over the weekend when a local social media user tracked a car via GPS that had been seized weeks earlier by the State Investigation Agency. Previously used as an intercity taxi, the vehicle was found altered and in possession of a municipal commissioner. Despite the fiscal agents’ presence, the official was allowed to leave after presenting a depositary document, fueling public indignation.

According to state authorities, some of these vehicles had been abandoned for up to 10 years before being repaired by local governments and put into official service. Governor Jara defended the practice during his weekly press conference, explaining that many municipalities lack the budget to buy new vehicles and that he personally asked the state prosecutor, Bernardo Rodríguez Alamilla, to facilitate the transfer of these units.

However, critics argue this is not an isolated incident but part of a systemic issue within the Attorney General’s Office. Citizens preparing formal complaints to the Federal Attorney General’s Office suspect a network of corruption involving the mishandling of seized property. Meanwhile, the local fiscalía has launched internal investigations through its Comptroller and General Visitor offices to clarify the irregularities.

This case highlights the tension between resource scarcity in local governments and the need for transparent, lawful management of confiscated assets. As Oaxaca’s authorities defend the reuse of supposedly abandoned vehicles, the public demands clearer accountability. Federal authorities may intervene if evidence of corruption emerges, keeping this issue under close scrutiny in the weeks ahead.