Narco News Weekly #28
In this issue:
Tamaulipas State Secretary Survives Ambush Amid Accusations of Illicit Ties
Local Journalist and News Administrator Targeted in Acapulco Shooting
Armed Group Seizes Control in Pantelhó, Chiapas, Threatens El Machete Group
Nine Vehicles Seized in 'Tamarindo' Operation: Sinaloa
Navy Secures Over 2.4 Tons Of Cocaine Near Acapulco
Mexican Navy Dismantles 15 Offshore Platforms Used for Drug Smuggling
Journalist Carlos Jiménez Threatened by Unidentified Armed Group
Two More Executed in Tecate, Baja California
Journalist Carlos Jiménez Threatened by Unidentified Armed Group
Gulf Cartel Faction Threatened in Narco Banners Found in Reynosa
La Familia Michoacana Announces Purge Against Meth Dealers in Metepec
Gulf Cartel Threatens CJNG in Tamuín, San Luis Potosí
Tamaulipas State Secretary Survives Ambush Amid Accusations of Illicit Ties
Héctor Joel Villegas González, the Tamaulipas State Secretary, has miraculously survived an armed attack on the Reynosa-San Fernando highway. Villegas, along with his entourage, was targeted while commuting from Río Bravo to Ciudad Victoria. Authorities promptly responded to the incident and confirmed Villegas's safety. These events occur against the backdrop of significant accusations against Villegas. Reports from a local crime blog, Valor Tamaulipeco, suggest that Villegas and other cabinet members have been extorting payments for fuel imports from the US. Furthermore, Villegas has previously been linked to Sergio Carmona Alguno, a businessman notoriously involved in fuel theft, who was killed in November 2021. Villegas's alleged associations with criminal activity, coupled with this recent attack, have stirred concern and controversy in Tamaulipas.
Local Journalist and News Administrator Targeted in Acapulco Shooting
In a disturbing incident early yesterday, Alan Castro Abarca, a local reporter and Facebook news page administrator, was severely injured in a shooting in Acapulco, Guerrero. After being shot six times by a 9mm, including a hit to the head, Castro was rushed to the hospital where he is currently stable but in serious condition. Castro manages two Facebook pages, “Contacto TV Guerrero” and “La Última Línea Noticias,” both of which report on state news, including crime and government corruption. While the motive for the attack remains unclear, this occurrence accentuates the grave danger faced by journalists in Mexico. Article 19, a group monitoring violence against journalists, reports that since 2000, at least 157 journalists have been killed due to their work, with 12 such incidents in the past year alone. Independent journalists like Castro, lacking the support of a larger organization, are particularly vulnerable.
Armed Group Seizes Control in Pantelhó, Chiapas, Threatens El Machete Group
An unidentified armed group has claimed control over the town of Pantelhó, Chiapas, while calling upon the National Guard to banish members of El Machete Group and the Municipal Council. The autonomous group, consisting of residents from 86 communities and neighborhoods, justified the seizure by referring to the numerous abuses and murders allegedly committed by El Machete. The armed group's demands include the immediate dismissal of the Machete Municipal Council, as well as arrest warrants and immediate arrests of various named individuals associated with the crimes. This action marks another escalation in the increasing tension and violence in the region.
Nine Vehicles Seized in 'Tamarindo' Operation: Sinaloa
The Mexican Army, National Guard, and State Preventive Police have seized a total of nine vehicles, including cloned patrol cars from the National Guard and Navy, in the Villa Adolfo López Mateos "El Tamarindo" syndicate. The operation was part of a crackdown on illegal activities and suspicious vehicles in the area. Despite the large-scale operation and the implementation of roadblocks in Culiacán and Navolato, no confrontations or arrests were reported. The municipality of Navolato is believed to be controlled by a high-ranking lieutenant of the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel.