A video has begun circulating on social media documenting members of the Sierra Cartel, also known as Los Tlacos, distributing candy to children in communities in Guerrero, the state where this criminal organization originated.
The images show a caravan of some of the stolen trucks decorated for Christmas. Men in tactical gear and carrying high-powered weapons guard the vehicles as they proceed, while an individual dressed as Santa Claus throws candy to the children gathered along the roadside.
According to local residents, the criminal group plans to carry out a massive gift distribution to the entire population on Christmas Day, reinforcing the perception that these activities are a propaganda strategy.
These types of acts are common among organized crime groups, who seek to build a base of social support and present themselves as “suppliers” to communities in order to facilitate their territorial control and hinder potential operations by federal security forces.
To date, no authority in the state of Guerrero has issued an official statement regarding the free movement of armed civilians holding public events in the state.
The contrast between the festive symbolism and the display of assault rifles has generated a wave of criticism and concern about the normalization of criminal presence in the daily lives of rural populations in Guerrero.
