President Vicente Fox's former travel coordinator Nahúm Acosta is an important member of the National Action Party (PAN) in the border state of Sonora, according to information obtained by EL UNIVERSAL. He is originally from Agua Prieta, Sonora, a border city used as a drug route into the United States by the Tijuana Cartel. Reputed drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán also allegedly operates in the area.
"Nahúm started work for the president after being recommended by Sonora PAN members," said Manuel Espino Barrientos, who was briefly the president's travel director in 2001. Acosta began working at the presidency under Barrientos, and is considered an ally of Acosta.
According to the structural hierarchy of presidential personnel, only three officials were in charge of Acosta; Fox himself, his secretary of staff and another senior travel official.