Blow to CJNG in Michoacán; Former Colombian Military Detected in Cartel

The Armed Forces killed 12 alleged members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) this Saturday in Huitzontla, Michoacán, after previously wounding three members of the Navy (Semar), according to the Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC). In the operation, nine people were arrested, Mexicans and former Colombian military personnel linked to the criminal organization.

This inter-institutional operation was carried out in response to several citizen reports indicating that a priority target was concentrated in the aforementioned town, in a difficult-to-access mining area, with a group of highly violent armed individuals.

These individuals were trained in handling high-caliber weapons and explosives. After conducting an investigation, the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) confirmed the presence of heavily armed individuals linked to crimes such as extortion, homicide, and illegal deprivation of liberty in the area.

The SSPC stated that during the operation, “there was a violent attack on the personnel of the Navy Secretariat using firearms exclusively for the armed forces by the alleged criminals against the security forces, necessitating the use of force in accordance with current regulations.”

After the confrontation with the security forces, 12 assailants were killed and three Semar officers were injured.