Mexico City, Mexico — Two more former Mexico City government officials have been arrested and charged with espionage. The most recent detainments total six arrests in what the city has named the Sterling Case.
Ulises Lara López, spokesman for the Mexico City Attorney General’s Office, made the announcement. He says the latest two to be arrested, Arturo “N” and Gustavo “N”, were formally charged, bringing the total to six.
The now-six arrested former government officials are accused of spying on political rivals, journalists and civilians from 2012 to 2018. Some of those they are accused of spying on include now-president Andrés Manuel López Obrador and the current head of the capital’s government, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
Arturo “N” and Gustavo “N” are both former officials of the previous head of the Government of Mexico City, Miguel Ángel Mancera, who headed the government from 2012-2018.
Lara López said that Gustavo “N” served as General Coordinator of Policies, Administration of Planning and Organization of the then Attorney General’s Office, while Arturo “N” was deputy director of the area of the Secretariat of Government.
Both are accused of actively participating in intercepting lines and listening to telephone calls, as well as reading messages and emails to follow activities of some political figures, journalists and civilians.
The Sterling Case has been under investigation for several years. Its name comes from the three-story building on Sterling Street in central Mexico City that was used for their operations.
According to Mexicans Against Corruption, the Sterling Case operations was financed with public money and included 42 computers, numerous drones, 12 motorcycles and 10 cars. At least 30 people are believed to have been employed by the operation.