Narco News #27
In this issue:
Organized Crime Groups Linked to Pre-Election Violence in Mexico
Gulf Cartel Kidnaps and Tortures Laborers Mistaken for Rivals
Cartel Gunmen Kidnap Bus Filled with Police Officers in Southern Mexico
Threats to Take Up Arms in Michoacan Over Murder of Hipolito Mora
Mexican Navy Seizes Semi-Submersible with 3.5 Tons of Cocaine
Former Acapulco Security Secretary Arrested in Connection to Missing Marines
Car Bomb Attack Injures Ten National Guard Agents in Guanajuato
Organized Crime Groups Linked to Pre-Election Violence in Mexico
A study from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) reveals that organized crime groups are using violence to manipulate elections in Mexico. Surprisingly, some regions heavily affected by organized crime reported fewer attacks on local officials, indicating that these groups may wield so much power that violence isn't required for coercion. The crime groups influence elections by escalating violence, lowering voter turnout, and safeguarding incumbent candidates with whom they have agreements. While Mexico has seen a sharp increase in political violence leading up to elections, in areas with a strong organized crime presence, violence may not be necessary to maintain control, suggesting an intricate and concerning relationship between organized crime, political violence, and elections.
Gulf Cartel Kidnaps and Tortures Laborers Mistaken for Rivals
In a tragic case of mistaken identity, the Gulf Cartel kidnapped three laborers in Ciudad Victoria, believing them to be rival hitmen. The captives, Cesar Nicolas Cepeda, Hector Rolando Posada, and Francisco Hernandez, were held for several days and tortured for information. This case turned fatal when a car crash during their transport to a rural area resulted in the death of Cepeda and two cartel gunmen. This incident highlights the growing violence and power struggles within the region, particularly as the Gulf Cartel faction from Matamoros attempts to wrest control of central Tamaulipas from the Cartel Del Noreste faction of Los Zetas. Amidst escalating violence in cities like Ciudad Victoria, Reynosa, Nuevo Laredo, and San Fernando, law enforcement agencies remain largely non-interfering, granting these criminal organizations almost complete impunity.