The Mexican army and the National Guard clashed with an armed group working for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel ( CJNG ) in Aguililla, Michoacán.
After the shooting, authorities didn’t reveal if there were fatalities, wounded gunmen, or detainees.
Reports indicate the federal forces seized a large arsenal that included assault rifles, grenade launchers , and ammunition.
Moreover, authorities seized three armored vehicles , which the criminals used during shootings and ambushes.
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This criminal group, led by Miguel Fernández, aka "El M2," often engages in shootings with security forces in El Aguaje.
In recent weeks, several gunmen have died and authorities have arrested at least 20 criminals. Even then, the criminal organization has expanded and it’s a threat in Tepalcatepec and Coalcomán, in Jalisco.
Locals have recently reported caravans of vehicles owned by the CJNG.
Weeks ago, EL UNIVERSAL reported the bloody cartel is now using drones armed with explosives to attack its enemies in Tepalcatepec, Michoacán.
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Journalist Denise Maerker revealed the information and explained the drug cartel uses C-4, an explosive used during wars.
In an interview with local vigilante groups, they said that after a clash with the deadly cartel, they found two drones and four explosives. This way, vigilantes discovered the CJNG is creating new weapons by strapping bombs to the devices.
Vigilante groups emerged in the region known as “Tierra Caliente” years ago after criminal organizations terrorized entire communities. However, the region registered a sudden surge in violence on July 25, when criminals attacked the Tepalcatepec vigilante group in a bid to gain control over the community.
This is not the first time the Jalisco New Generation Cartel uses drones. The Attorney General’s Office launched an investigation in May and the drug cartel now faces organized crime and terrorism charges.
Back in May, the Attorney General’s Office found several drones and C-4 explosives in Puebla. The CJNG also used these types of explosives in Guanajuato.
Tierra Caliente is region located in the Michoacán. During the last decade, the region has registered a surge in crime and violence due to the presence of violent cartels such as CJNG, Los Viagras, Los Caballeros Templarios, and La Familia Michoacana.
Vigilante groups operate in the region to protect themselves from the criminals since 2013.
This region is characterized by violence, crime, poverty, and drug trafficking.
The CJNG was originally known as the Zeta Killers and first appeared in 2011, with the display of the bodies of 35 alleged members of Los Zetas. Although the criminal organization is based in Jalisco , it also operates in Colima, Michoacán , the state of Mexico, Guerrero, and Guanajuato.
The Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación allegedly served as an armed group for the Sinaloa Cartel until 2013.
In 2015, the Mexican government declared CJNG one of the most dangerous cartels in the country. In October 2016, the U.S. Department of the Treasury described the group as one of the world’s “most prolific and violent drug trafficking organizations.”
According to some analysts, the CJNG has operations throughout the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
Moreover, the brutal Mexican cartel has been linked to several mass graves in southwestern Mexico and shot down an army helicopter in 2015.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel distributes drugs in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Atlanta. Furthermore, this drug trafficking organization is “one of the most powerful and fastest-growing cartels in Mexico and the United States” as it has a presence in at least 24 of 32 Mexican states.
This drug cartel is characterized by its rapid expansion and its willingness to “engage in violent confrontations with Mexican Government security forces and rival cartels.”
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