Mexican army troops captured 25 gunmen at a ranch in Chihuahua state June 13, who witnesses say had disguised themselves as soldiers. The troops also seized 29 automatic rifles during the raid at the pueblo of Nicolás Bravo, Madera municipality, in the Sierra Tarahumara. The National Defense Secretary (SEDENA) has mobilized 5,000 more troops to the Sierra’s dope-growing “Triángulo Dorado” to hunt down opium and marijuana crops.
In Durango state, seven youths ranging from 18 to 25 years of age were found dead with signs of torture June 16 in the town of Gómez Palacio. They were among 22 presumably narco-related killings that occurred overnight nationwide.
In Tijuana, army troops raided the local offices of the Prosecutor General of the Republic (PGR) June 13 to arrest Heriberto Anaya, regional commander of the Federal Investigation Agency (AFI), on charges of collaboration with narco gangs.
Also June 13, authorities in Michoacán said three federal agents had been killed in two ambush attacks along the Morelia-Salamanca highway.
In Cancún, soldiers announced the arrest of the local leader of the Gulf Cartel, Juan Manuel Jurado Zarzoza, June 12. The army said he was in charge of drug shipments, extortion and kidnappings in in the international tourist resort that has become a key trans-shipment point for narco gangs. SEDENA also said it had turned over to federal prosecutors 10 mid-level military officers nationwide who are accused of collaborating with Sinaloa Cartel leader, Joaquín Guzmán. (AFP, Heraldo ed Chihuahua, June 16; AP, June 14; La Jornada, June 13)
See our last post on Mexico’s narco wars.
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