Edelmiro Cavazos Leal (11 November 1971 – August 2010)[1] was a Mexican politician who served as the Mayor of Santiago, Nuevo León, until his abduction and assassination in August 2010.[2] Cavazos had championed a crackdown on local police corruption and organized crime during his tenure in office.[2]
On August 15, 2010, Cavazos returned home from a public event held at Santiago's town square.[2] He was abducted by fifteen men, who forced him into a car, shortly after arriving home.[2] His body was discovered outside Monterrey on August 18, 2010.[2] He had been handcuffed and blindfolded before being shot.[2]
Mexican authorities in Nuevo Leon arrested seven police officers in connection with Cavazos' murder, including an officer who served as Cavazos' bodyguard.[3] According, to Nuevo Leon Governor Rodrigo Medina and Nuevo Leon state Attorney General Alejandro Garza y Garza, the Los Zetas drug gang had ordered Cavazos' killing after he cracked down on police officers who were secretly loyal to the criminal organization.[4] Cavazos had reportedly disciplined traffic officers who had illegally issued tickets to mountain bikers with cuts in their salaries.[4] Attorney General Garza told reporters in a press conference, "They say that since he scolded them ... they figured he was working for their enemies."[4]