Mexican investigators seize boxes filled with cash at office of ex-aide to former governor

MEXICO CITY – Mexican authorities say they have seized five boxes filled with cash as part of an investigation into alleged embezzlement by a former governor of southern Tabasco state.

Tabasco state prosecutor Fernando Valenzuela says bundles of 500- and 1,000-peso bills were found in an office of Jose Saiz, who was finance secretary under former Gov. Andres Granier.

Valenzuela says investigators are still counting the money, but a witness told them there the cache contains from 90 million to 100 million pesos. That would between $7 million and $8 million.

Current Gov. Arturo Nunez has repeatedly accused his predecessor of having left a public debt of millions of dollars.

Local media recently made public an audio in which Granier boasted about owning hundreds of suits and pairs of shoes.