Missing Chef’s Mother Accuses Authorities of Obstruction

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Chef Héctor Ignacio Andrade Lezama, 35, disappeared on Federal Highway 307 between Tulum and this municipality more than three weeks ago. However, state authorities have yet to provide access to surveillance cameras that could offer clues to his whereabouts.

This was denounced by Bertha Lezama, the chef’s mother, in an interview from Veracruz for the television newscast “NMás.” She called for government authorities to intervene and grant access to these cameras.

“Nacho” Andrade Lezama, originally from Veracruz, moved to Tulum to work as a chef, where he reached an executive level. In November, he gave a keynote lecture to students at the Technological University of that municipality.

His missing person alert was issued on December 7, although it is believed his disappearance occurred on the 3rd of that month. According to his mother, testimonies indicate he was walking along Federal Highway 307 between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

“At 6:30 p.m. he was detected, several friends saw him, but from there they did not see my son,” she stated. “And they do not want to show the cameras where my son was walking, from Tulum to Playa del Carmen, because according to the (National) Guard that is looking for my son, they do not have access to the cameras.”