An international group of hackers has stolen thousands of emails from the IT system of the Ministry of National Defence — including confidential memos on the health of the President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Some of the emails and attached documents contain information about a serious heart problem Mr López Obrador (pictured) suffered earlier this year.
The documents were leaked to the media outlet, Latinus, by the Guacamaya group of Central American hackers.
Latinus journalist, Carlos Loret de Mola presented details about the leaked information during his online program in which he said the documents included texts, attached files, information cards, letters and videos – many classified as confidential – dating back to 2016.
A Twitter account claiming to represent the Guacamaya hackers also said it had hacked documents from the Chilean army, as well as documents from the security forces of El Salvador, Peru and Colombia.
Mr Loret said the successful incursion into the Ministry of Defence was “the most serious violation ever of the Federal Government’s cyber-security”.
Among the information gleaned from the cyber-attack was that Mr López Obrador was flown by air ambulance from Chiapas to Mexico City in January for treatment of “high risk unstable angina”.
“Neither the President nor anyone from his Government has referred to the emergency transfer or the serious diagnosis,” Mr Loret said.
Confirming the hacking, Mr López Obrador admitted he has various health issues.
“It’s true there was a cyber-attack — that’s what they call information theft, and through these modern mechanisms they extract files,” Mr López Obrador said.
“They’re very specialised people, not just anyone,” he said.
“I take a cocktail of medications at night for several conditions including high blood pressure and thyroid issues, but I am very well. I get a check-up every three or four months.”
Mexico City, 2 October 2022
