On the early hours of Tuesday, July 14, 2026, authorities detained Rafael Z., known during the Marín era as “El Español” and infamously nicknamed the “Tirador de la Atlixcáyotl.” His arrest has brought renewed attention to his role in aiding former Puebla governor Mario Marín Torres’s controversial exit from the maximum-security prison “El Altiplano” in Almoloya de Juárez.

Rafael Z. was not just a political fixer; he was also a favored contractor of José Alfredo Arango García, ex-secretary of Health under Marín’s administration. His business empire spans a diverse range of sectors, including construction, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and environmental laboratories. Among the companies he currently holds stakes in are:

– Grupo Mexicano de Investigación Más Desarrollo Más Innovación, S.A. de C.V.
– Owl Health
– Inmobiliaria Rajuan, S.A. de C.V.
– Detabio
– Biotecnología del Siglo XXI, S.A. de C.V.
– Desarrollo Tecnológico de Ornamentales, Plántulas y Flores S.P.R. de R.L. de C.V.
– Inmobiliaria del Equipo Rojo, S.A. de C.V.
– PETROAADLAB

These enterprises share a close-knit circle of partners, including Sergio Rubén Trejo Estrada, Rosalinda Cabrera Dolores, Ángela Dolores Tolentino, and Rafael’s own children from his first marriage, Julen and Ander Zabalza Macías.

Crucially, it was through Rosalinda Cabrera Dolores—his business partner in Inmobiliaria Rajuan, Desarrollo Tecnológico de Ornamentales, and PETROAADLAB—that Rafael Z. extended a lifeline to Mario Marín. Rosalinda, alongside her sister Adriana del Rocío Cabrera Dolores, offered Marín a position at Arrendadora Cado, a company that played a pivotal role in Marín’s legal strategy.

Back in August 2023, journalist Ernesto Aroche Aguilar revealed that Marín’s defense aimed to secure his release from “El Altiplano” by proving he had a legitimate job he could perform from home. Arrendadora Cado provided Marín with a five-year contract and a monthly salary of 30,000 pesos, a document notarized by Valentín Meneses Rojas, a close former collaborator of the ex-governor.

This arrangement allowed Marín to leave prison a year after the contract was presented. However, his freedom was short-lived; in April 2025, he was returned to custody to continue facing charges for the torture of journalist Lydia Cacho.

The unfolding events around Rafael Z. and his network highlight the complex intersections of politics, business, and justice in Puebla. For migrants and immigrants navigating Mexico’s social and political landscape, understanding these dynamics is key to grasping how power and influence operate behind the scenes.

As Puebla prepares to expand its public transport options, including the upcoming cablebús system, these stories remind us of the importance of transparency and accountability in governance—elements essential for building inclusive, equitable cities that serve all residents.