14 October 2011

MEXICO: 'Cheese Gate' Corruption Scandal Tainting Calderon's Party.

                                         WSJ/ D.LUHNOW

     The recent fire in a Monterrey casino that killed 52...also opened a bag of snakes.
     It was revealed that the casino's owner...now hiding in Miami...was paying $140k per month to extortionists...certainly narco gangs and perhaps also local politicos and officials...because the casino lacked proper permits to operate.
     Just days after the deadly fire, the mayor's brother was revealed on a video accepting lots of cash from the casino.
     He claimed it was payment for queso/cheese he sold to the business.
    Now selling cheese for influence/protection has become a national punchline...and the many illegal casinos sprouting up around the country without permits...are called the 'cheese gate' scandal.