Monday, March 2, 2026

Businessman arrested for theft of 5bn pesos from housing fund

A businessman accused of looting 5 billion pesos from the national housing fund has been arrested in Xochitepec, Morelos.

Teófilo Zaga Tawil was apprehended Friday morning for organized crime and money laundering relating to contracts between his company and the National Workers Housing Fund (Infonavit), a state run fund which helps people gain access to mortgages.

The public prosecutor’s office believes that the contracts and payouts between his company, Telra Realty, and Infonavit were illicit because they were awarded without any bidding process, and the company did not not have the capital, professional experience or infrastructure to carry out the work.

It also says Infonavit officials simulated the mediation process.

Early termination of contracts forced Infonavit to pay 5.88 billion pesos to Telra in compensation in 2017.

His brother, Rafael Zaga Tawil, and nephew, Elías Zaga Hanono, are also being sought.

Sources: Milenio (sp), Reforma (sp)

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
newspapers with El Mencho's face on the front page

Mexico’s week in review: The fall of El Mencho

7
Mexico's most wanted criminal is dead, his cartel is leaderless and the race to replace him has already begun — here's your guide to the week that changed Mexico's security landscape.
Mexican marines inspect a burned car in Puerto Vallarta

In the wake of another fallen cartel leader, 10 reasons why this time could be different: A perspective from our CEO

22
After the fall of a major cartel leader, conventional wisdom predicts more violence. Mexico News Daily's CEO makes the case for why this time could genuinely be different.
The Mexico City skyline with a skyscraper in the foreground

Mexico’s economic growth outlook improves as Banxico, OECD lift forecasts

1
Mexico's central bank and one of the world's leading economic organizations raised their 2026 GDP growth forecast to 1.6% and 1.4% respectively, offering cautious optimism after Mexico's sluggish 2025 performance
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity