26 Linked to 'Ghost Employee' Corruption Ring in Mexico State

An investigation into anomalies in teacher hiring in Mexico's State of Mexico has exposed a corruption ring that allegedly exploited government positions for at least five years. Prosecutors have linked 26 individuals to the scheme, which used "ghost employees" to divert public funds. Another individual awaits a legal resolution, and five others have sought legal protection against arrest.

The probe involves 33 people, including former and current officials and private citizens, accused of creating irregular positions, registering phantom workers, and disbursing state payroll funds. The case began with complaints from the Secretariat of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (SECTI) after detecting 459 new teacher hires whose supposed beneficiaries were not working and had no evidence of performing duties.

Investigators reconstructed a structure that, according to the findings, had been operating since 2021. It allegedly involved officials from various departments responsible for authorizing hires, processing administrative changes, validating records, and releasing payments. The implicated officials include former undersecretaries, directors, administrative delegates, and department heads from the Finance, Education, and Security secretariats, as well as the General Secretariat and SECTI.

Prosecutors state that the group also employed "recruiters" to persuade individuals, primarily family and friends, to lend their personal data to appear as government employees. The scheme involved creating positions even when essential documentation was missing or irregular, yet these positions were added to administrative and payroll systems, allowing for regular payments. The investigation file comprises 30 volumes and approximately 12,000 pages.