Allegations Surface: Nuevo León Governor Samuel García Accused of Receiving an 800-Million-Peso Ranch

An investigation by Reforma claims that Samuel García, the governor of Nuevo León and member of Movimiento Ciudadano, owns a 700-hectare ranch located on the border between Tamaulipas and Nuevo León. Valued at 800 million pesos, the property allegedly came into García’s possession through a transfer involving the family of a state contractor. The ranch is now registered under Saga Tierras y Bienes Inmuebles, a company owned by the governor and his father, Samuel García Mascorro.

The Transfer of the Property

According to the report, the ranch was originally owned by the family of José María Garza Ponce, founder of the construction company Garza Ponce. The property initially belonged to six of Garza Ponce’s children before being transferred in December 2022 to his wife, Norma Hilda Treviño. After Treviño’s death, the land was placed in a trust. One year later, the property was allegedly transferred to García’s company through a legal mechanism described as a "contract for the reversion of ownership of real estate in execution and partial extinction of the trust."

Connections to State Contracts

The construction company Garza Ponce has been awarded several lucrative public contracts in Nuevo León, including projects such as a pipeline and the renovation of the Monterrey metro, worth over 7 billion pesos. The investigation raises questions about possible conflicts of interest, given the relationship between the company and the governor.

Previous Allegations of Land Acquisition

This is not the first time Samuel García has faced allegations regarding questionable land deals. In May, Reforma published another investigation alleging that García acquired 17.7 hectares of land in Mesa de la Corona, a high-end area of San Pedro Garza García, for over 700 million pesos. The acquisition reportedly took place 18 months after García assumed office.

At the time, García publicly denied the allegations, stating, “I did not buy any land, and if anyone proves otherwise, I will resign.” He dismissed the claims as politically motivated, coming just days before an election, and emphasized that he had “nothing to hide.” The property in question, which is also registered under Saga Tierras y Bienes Inmuebles, is allegedly intended for the construction of a 2,800-square-meter residence.

Omitted Asset Declarations

Criticism has intensified due to García’s omission of these properties in his 2023 asset declaration. Despite the claims surrounding the ranch and the San Pedro land, neither was reported in the governor’s official filings.

Earlier Corruption Scandal

This latest controversy follows another scandal from March 2023, in which García was accused of channeling more than 200 million pesos from a government supplier to a legal firm co-owned by him and his father. These allegations add to the scrutiny surrounding the governor’s financial dealings and potential conflicts of interest during his tenure.

Questions of Transparency

The accusations against Samuel García have sparked debate about transparency and accountability among public officials in Mexico. While the governor continues to deny any wrongdoing, the allegations have raised serious concerns about the relationship between state contractors and government leaders, as well as the potential misuse of public resources. The unfolding investigations will likely play a key role in determining García’s political future.