Criminal syndicate sets fire to mayor's residence in Queréndaro, Michoacán; no casualties reported
Queréndaro, Michoacán, has become a battleground for organized crime groups, with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and Group X engaged in a power struggle. The latest incident occurred on an ordinary day when the residence of Diana Caballero Romero, the municipal president, was attacked.
The assault on the residence was followed by gunfire and explosions, reportedly launched from drones. Videos circulating on social media show the house engulfed in flames. Tragically, the incident resulted in the death of a municipal police officer and injuries to four more, including three from the Civil Guard and one local.
This attack is believed to be a response to the change in police command that benefited the CJNG. Group X, led by Alan Martínez Durán, also known as "El Primo," is considered one of the main generators of violence in the area. El Primo is engaged in a war for territorial control with the CJNG, his former criminal organization.
The conflict in Queréndaro revolves around control of drug trafficking routes, extortion, and local dominance. El Primo has been identified as a significant actor in escalating violence, including homicides and armed confrontations between the rival groups.
The intensity of violence reflects the broader instability in Michoacán, where multiple criminal factions compete for influence. However, official statements or details about the armed attack have been scarce. Neither the municipality, the municipal president, nor the Michoacán Fiscalía has issued a statement regarding the incident.
In the aftermath of the attack, residents of different rural areas of Queréndaro reported more shootouts. Additionally, on February 6, a criminal group attacked police elements in the same municipality, resulting in three officer deaths and two injuries.
Local authorities located two trucks marked with the CJNG's initials at the scene of the attack, suggesting that the subsequent shootouts were between Group X and the CJNG. It is important to note that the CJNG is expanding its operations to trafficking mercury, bypassing authorities and exporting tonnes to South America disguised as gravel.
This violent conflict has claimed the life of a 16-year-old teenager in Michoacán, marking the third attack on minors in less than a week. For more detailed information about El Primo's activities or current status, it would be advisable to consult recent security reports or official government sources, as the situation in these regions can evolve rapidly.
The assault on the municipal president's residence in Queréndaro, Michoacán, was a violent incident that involved gunfire and explosions, and it is believed to be a response to the change in police command that benefited the CJNG. This attack, along with subsequent shootouts in rural areas, highlights the ongoing power struggle between organized crime groups like CJNG and Group X over drug trafficking routes, extortion, and local dominance in the States, a broader issue reflected in the general-news category. In the same vein, the crime-and-justice sector is closely monitoring El Primo, a significant actor in the escalating violence, including homicides and armed confrontations.
