Drug Cartel Update Week of May 1, 2023
CJNG Operating in Tamaulipas
A recent shootout near the city of Jimenez in Tamaulipas, Mexico, revealed that the notorious narco-terrorist Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) is operating in the border state in alliance with a faction of the Gulf Cartel. The violent confrontation involved as many as 15 armored SUVs on each side and resulted in the discovery of vehicles with the CJNG initials, pointing to the presence of this sadistic criminal organization known for car bombs, IEDs, grenade attacks, and targeting innocent victims to instill fear.
Violence in Chiapas on the Rise
The once peaceful Mexican southern border state of Chiapas is experiencing alarming rates of violence, including large-scale gun battles, kidnappings, and other violent crimes, as criminal organizations fight for control of migrant and drug trafficking routes. The state, which borders Guatemala, is currently being fought over by the Sinaloa Cartel, Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG), and the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, according to a Mexican military report leaked in late 2022. The U.S. Department of State has issued a travel warning following a series of high-profile shootings in the city of San Cristobal de Las Casas, one of the main tourist destinations in Chiapas.
CJNG and Military Clash
Seven cartel gunmen died and several others were injured during a series of shootouts in western Mexico, as La Familia Michoacana fought against the Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG). The violence occurred near the town of Tlalpujahua in eastern Michoacan, but Mexican authorities have not released details of the confrontation. After the initial shootout, Mexican Army soldiers tried to intercept the gunmen, but CJNG gunmen ambushed the soldiers near Ciudad Hidalgo, Michoacan. One soldier died, and the military claims six gunmen also died in the shootout. The eastern part of Michoacan has experienced numerous shootouts recently, as factions of La Familia Michoacana and CJNG fight for control of drug trafficking and production areas in the region.