The presumed financial operator of a captured Mexico drug baron was well known in the tourist/expat enclave of San Miguel de Allende, heading up one of the town’s most prestigious real estate developments.
Mexican soldiers arrested Hector “El H” Beltran Leyva along with Quetetero businessman German Goyenche as they dined at a seafood restaurant in San Miguel de Allende last week.
According to the federal Attorney General’s Office (PGR), Beltran Leyva had been living a simple life in the neighboring state of Queretero, while running a major operation specializing in moving cocaine from South America and Central America to markets in Europe and the United States. Mexico had placed a bounty of two million dollars on hi’s head, while the United States had offered five million.
The PGR said Beltran headed up “a large network of corruption and money laundering.”
Goyenche, who is considered Beltran’s chief financial operator, was a public figure and well known in both Queretero and San Miguel. He presided over several companies mostly dedicated to real estate, including the well-known Otomi Lake & Villa complex in San Miguel de Allende.
Goyenche arrived in San Miguel six years ago to launch Otomi, which is described on its website as a development “nestled in a millenary prehispanic ceremonial center … an exclusive residential equestrian complex where you can live in safe surroundings and enjoy nature with all the commodities of modern life.” Land in the development is valued at 19,000 pesos per square meter, while property prices range from 4.5 to 7.5 million pesos. Monthly maintenance fees are 5,000 pesos.
Goyenche, who became a member of the Green Party in Queretero in 2008, was friendly with several San Miguel politicians and often seen and photographed at public functions, most recently on September 29 at a reunion of business people.
Various current and former San Miguel politicians who knew Goyenche came forward immediately this week to stress they knew nothing of his relationship with Beltran Leyva and vowed to cooperate fully with authorities regarding the businessman’s dealings in the town. One told La Jornada newspaper that “everyone in San Miguel’s business community knew who Goyenche was.”
According to several news sources, other businesses Goyenche was involved with include Trinvest, Centurion Real Estates and Resorts, Inversiones Inmobiliarios y Construccion, Grupo Baresa, Concretos Premezclados del Rio and Grupo Gallzo de Oro.