Narco News May 6, 2024
Assassination of Comisario Gerardo Insúa Casaón in Tlajomulco, Jalisco
On the evening of April 27, 2024, Comisario Gerardo Insúa Casaón, the head of General Supervision at the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública del Estado, was murdered in the Real del Valle neighborhood of Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Jalisco. The incident occurred at the intersections of Valle de San Víctor and Valle de San Valentín streets shortly after 9:00 PM. Comisario Casaón was accompanied by family members and was outside a store when several armed men directly attacked him, leading to his death from multiple gunshot wounds. Local police secured the scene and the case has been handed over to the Ministerio Público. Despite a large-scale search involving state, municipal, and federal authorities, no arrests have been reported. This murder adds to the rising count of police officers killed in Jalisco, marking the fourth in 2024.
Armed Group Issues Threats in Cozumel, Targets Alleged Sinaloa Mob Affiliates
An armed group identifying themselves as the "Specialized Shock Group" issued a stern warning in Cozumel on April 29, 2024, targeting individuals they claim are masquerading as members of the Sinaloa cartel. The group accused various individuals, including José Corral (El Cotorro), Marín Jibal (El Marín), and Eva Maria Suarez Martina, the director of the Quintana Roo prison, of collaboration with rivals posing as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The declaration extended to numerous others including prison officials and inmates involved in operations from local prisons that supposedly coordinate criminal activities such as executions, extortions, and robberies on the island. The group threatened severe consequences including abduction, torture, and execution for non-compliance.
50 Sicarios Seize Small Town in Sonora for Two Days
Over a two-day period, a group of more than 50 armed sicarios took control of the small community of Félix Gómez, El Dipo, in Pitiquito, Sonora, starting on April 9, 2024. The assailants occupied the town, forcibly taking residence in at least five homes and retaining their owners as involuntary hosts. During this occupation, the sicarios abducted two locals, including an elderly man named Manuel, who is still missing. The community, shaken and fearing further violence, saw a majority of residents flee, with some unable to find refuge and subsequently returning. The town now stands guarded, with many homes locked and deserted, as the terror-stricken community grapples with the aftermath. Authorities and activists, including members of the LeBaron family and Ceci Flores of the Madres Buscadoras de Sonora, have visited the area amid concerns of more violence and the potential discovery of clandestine graves.
Armed Confrontation in Southern Ejidos Leads to Casualty
On April 30, 2024, an armed confrontation erupted in the southern ejidos near the city of Reynosa, resulting in at least three separate incidents involving gunmen. The first reported encounter occurred in the ejido La Llorona Nueva, where State Guard members were attacked but managed to neutralize one assailant. Subsequent clashes were reported in the vicinity of Río Bravo, specifically near the junctions of brecha 109 with brechas 22 and 24, and later in the ejido El Guerreño. These incidents prompted significant law enforcement mobilization, although no further apprehensions were reported. The deceased, identified only as an armed civilian, was taken to the local morgue under the designation "NN" (no name) by authorities from the Tamaulipas General Justice Attorney's office who were dispatched to investigate.
Seizure of "Monstruo" Vehicles by the Gulf Cartel in Nuevo León
On April 28, 2024, Nuevo León experienced a surge of violence, marked by narco blockades on the highway between Monterrey and Reynosa and the seizure of five armored "monstruo" vehicles, allegedly used by the Gulf Cartel (CDG). These incidents took place in the municipalities of China and General Bravo, leading to significant roadblocks and law enforcement actions. The seized vehicles, marked with "CDG" to indicate affiliation with the Gulf Cartel, were equipped with heavy steel plating capable of withstanding armed attacks and even drone strikes. Designed to emulate military-grade vehicles, these trucks featured modifications like sniper ports and rooftop mounts for heavy weaponry. No armed confrontations were reported during the vehicle seizures, despite the intense situation.
Attack on Security Agent's House in Nuevo Triunfo, Chihuahua
In Chihuahua's Nuevo Triunfo neighborhood, a residence purportedly belonging to a state security agent was targeted in a shooting incident on April 30, 2024. The agent is reportedly assigned to the personal security detail of Secretary of Security, Gilberto Loya Chávez. Multiple gunshots were fired at the house located on Punto Alto Street, leading to a significant response from various security agencies, including the State Public Security Secretariat and the Municipal Public Security Directorate. The motive behind the attack is still under investigation, and no injuries were reported at the time of the incident. This event is part of a troubling pattern of attacks against members of the State Public Security Secretariat, particularly those from the Penitentiary System, by a group known as La Empresa.
Execution of Former Cancun Jail Director Fermín Cortés Burgos in Chetumal
Fermín Cortés Burgos, the former director of the Cancun jail and a recent advisor to Quintana Roo's Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC), was tragically executed on April 30, 2024, in Chetumal by hitmen allegedly affiliated with the Caborca cartel. The attack occurred near the Naval Zone as Cortés Burgos was riding a motorcycle. The assailants, reportedly following the orders of an individual known as "Kike" alias 'LMV', opened fire, causing him to lose control and crash into a cab. This incident coincided with the deployment of 200 members of the Secretariat of National Defense to the city to bolster security amidst a recent uptick in violent incidents. The State Attorney General's Office has launched an investigation into this high-profile murder, which has shaken the community and highlighted the ongoing challenges in combating organized crime in the region.
Narco Tunnel Linked to Los Rusos Discovered in Sonora-Arizona Border
On May 1, 2024, a narco tunnel associated with the Los Rusos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel was uncovered by the Attorney General's Office along the Sonora-Arizona border, specifically near San Luis Río Colorado. This clandestine passage, less than 5 meters long, was designed to facilitate the smuggling of drugs, weapons, money, and undocumented immigrants under the U.S. border wall. The discovery was made during a joint patrol by state public security police and the U.S. Border Patrol. Tools used for the tunnel's excavation, such as shovels, bars, and buckets, were found at the site, hidden under wood and weeds. No arrests or seizures were reported immediately following the discovery. Authorities have since filled the tunnel to prevent further use, reflecting ongoing efforts to combat the extensive network of over 230 drug tunnels discovered since 1990, predominantly in the Nogales region of Sonora.