A video circulating on social media has reignited concerns regarding the security situation in western Michoacán. It shows a group of heavily armed gunmen manning a checkpoint on Madero Street—one of the main thoroughfares in the municipality of Cotija, located just minutes from the historic center and City Hall.
The recording shows three SUVs and a pickup truck stopped on the road. The gunmen are carrying high-powered assault rifles and wearing helmets, ballistic vests, and tactical gear. Several vests bear the inscription “Guerrero,” a label alluding to “Los Guerreros”—a criminal faction led by Heraclio Guerrero Martínez, alias “El Tío Lako.” Authorities have identified him as a key operative for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) with a presence in the border area between Michoacán and Jalisco.
Users confirmed the convoy’s location by identifying the town’s large name-sign visible in the shot. The movement of this armed group through a high-traffic area, with no visible presence of security forces, caused alarm among the local population.
To date, neither federal nor state authorities have issued a formal statement confirming the authenticity of the footage or the date it was recorded. Nevertheless, this event adds to the ongoing violence affecting municipalities in the western region of Michoacán.
Furthermore, the current status of the Los Reyes Cartel remains unknown; they appear to have been retreating in the face of the CJNG’s advance.
