Atzitzintla, a municipality nestled on the border between Puebla and Veracruz, is facing one of its most serious security crises in recent years. Following a shootout that left six people dead, direct threats against Mayor Eduardo Velázquez Medina, and the resignation of 20 municipal police officers, the state government had to assume control of local security.
The region, located along the Puebla-Orizaba Highway and the Esperanza, Río Blanco, and Las Cumbres de Maltrata corridor, has historically been considered one of the most dangerous for truckers, primarily due to the operation of gangs dedicated to cargo theft.
The head of the Puebla State Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC), Francisco Sánchez González, confirmed that the mayor requested urgent support after the escalation of violence. In response, 15 state police officers were deployed to provide security. Additionally, a protection detail was established for the mayor, who was allegedly threatened by members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel’s (CJNG) “Operativa Barredora” (Sweeping Operation).
The crisis erupted following the events of November 18th, when a confrontation occurred between the Autodefensas Pueblos Unidos de la Región (United Peoples of the Region Self-Defense Forces) group—which local reports link to gangs led by “El Bukanas” and “La Marrana”—and the CJNG’s “Operativa Barredora.” The pursuit began in Paso Carretas and extended to Mariano Escobedo, Veracruz.
