Cruz Azul Cooperative Director Seeks AmCham Mexico's Help Amid $20 Million Dispute with U.S. Firm

The Cooperativa Cementera Cruz Azul faces a serious accusation of commercial malpractice, with a detained director, Juan Manuel Briseño González, reaching out to the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico for assistance. Briseño González, who was previously detained in 2015 for fraud, extortion, and threats, has penned a letter to Pedro Casas Alatriste, CEO and Executive Vice President of AmCham Mexico, detailing his concerns.

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Busco precisamente su asesoría para poder hacerle llegar dicha denuncia a las autoridades americanas, con la finalidad de que puedan conducir las investigaciones correspondientes y, en su defecto, colaborar con ellas para el esclarecimiento de los hechos que hoy le cuestan millones, de su patrimonio, a las familias de la Cooperativa Cruz Azul.

According to Briseño González, the U.S.-based company Bobth Trading LLC, headquartered in Delaware, has allegedly engaged in anti-commercial practices detrimental to the Cruz Azul Cement Cooperative. He claims the cooperative has suffered a significant financial blow, losing approximately $20 million due to the non-delivery of petroleum coke that was already purchased and fully paid for. This loss impacts not only the cooperative's finances but also its 7,000 employees and nearly a thousand cooperative members.

Briseño González asserts that his personal efforts in February 2024 to secure a refund for the undelivered goods were met with silence. He further suggests strong indications of complicity among high-ranking officials within the Cooperative who approved the agreement and made the full prepayment to the American company. The situation is escalating, with Briseño González warning that the dispute could evolve into a high-profile legal and public dispute. He plans to file a complaint for fraudulent administration against cooperative officials soon.

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el éxito de La Cruz Azul depende de que todos los días aportemos nuestro mayor esfuerzo y actuemos con profesionalismo y verdad.

In a separate letter addressed to the cooperative members, Briseño González emphasized the importance of collective effort, professionalism, and truth for the success of La Cruz Azul. Despite his year-and-a-half detention, he remains committed to seeking justice for the members and safeguarding the cooperative's assets, built over decades of hard work. He reiterated that Bobth Trading LLC betrayed their trust, leading to the $20 million loss for the undelivered petroleum coke.

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Sé que están al tanto que he sido privado de mi libertad desde hace 1 año y medio, pero eso no ha impedido que siga defendiendo que se nos haga justicia a las y los Socios Cooperativistas, cuidando el patrimonio que hemos construido con el esfuerzo incansable de décadas.

This situation highlights a complex internal struggle within the Cruz Azul Cooperative, intertwined with an international business dispute. The involvement of the American Chamber of Commerce suggests an attempt to leverage international pressure and legal frameworks to resolve the alleged malfeasance. From a Mexican perspective, such cases underscore the vulnerabilities of local businesses when dealing with international partners and the critical need for transparency and accountability in corporate governance, especially within cooperative structures that are vital to many communities.

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Como ha trascendido en medios de comunicación nacionales, nuestra querida Cooperativa ha sido víctima de Bobth Trading LLC. Traicionaron nuestra confianza y la Cooperativa tiene una pérdida de 20 millones de dólares, por coque de petróleo que fue prepagado, pero nunca fue entregado.