In the early hours of the day, the streets of Buenavista, Michoacán, were engulfed in chaos as the newly formed alliance between the Los Viagras Cartel and the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG) unleashed a wave of violence. This criminal collaboration, which has already proven to be a devastating force, resulted in burning vehicles, road closures, and violent attacks on both federal forces and local residents, leaving the region in a state of fear and uncertainty.
A Day of Terror in Tierra Caliente
The violence began with a series of roadblocks on the Apatzingán-Buenavista highway, where the criminal group used burning vehicles, including trailers, public transport trucks, and private cars, to halt traffic. These roadblocks were not the only tactic employed by the cartel; they also deployed drones armed with explosives, targeting homes and a Municipal Police patrol. The attack, captured on video by local residents, demonstrated the group’s willingness to use increasingly sophisticated and deadly methods.
As the situation escalated, businesses, department stores, and convenience stores throughout the area shuttered their doors, fearing that the violence would spread beyond the initial attacks. The federal security agencies confirmed that this offensive was a deliberate attempt by the criminal organization to prevent the Mexican Army from advancing its operations in the region, known as Tierra Caliente.
Military Confrontation in Buenavista
The day took a further violent turn when a heavily armed convoy, consisting of multiple vehicles and armored trucks, known locally as “monsters,” departed from the town of Cenobio Moreno towards the municipal seat of Buenavista. The convoy was intercepted by military personnel, leading to an intense gunfight that lasted for over three hours in the town of Limón de La Luna.
The prolonged firefight forced many residents to flee their homes in fear, seeking refuge in a church located in the Pareo district, a neighboring municipality of Tancítaro. The indiscriminate use of gunfire and explosive-laden drones by the criminal group highlighted the increasing brazenness of these cartels in their fight against federal forces.
The Alliance’s Deadly Intentions
The alliance between Los Viagras and CJNG was solidified just hours before the violent events unfolded. This partnership, as stated by César Alejandro Sepúlveda Arellano, also known as “El Botox,” one of the key leaders of Los Viagras, is aimed at uniting their forces against the Mexican Army, which has been a persistent threat to their operations.
In intercepted radio communications, “El Botox” declared allegiance to Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” the infamous leader of CJNG, urging members of the cartel to don the CJNG’s insignia. These communications also included chilling threats against soldiers, national guardsmen, and state police officers, warning of imminent violence if federal operations continued.
Attack in Coahuayana Leaves 8 Dead
The consequences of this deadly alliance were felt in another part of Michoacán, where eight community police officers were killed and eight others injured in an attack attributed to the CJNG, with the support of Los Viagras. The assault took place in the municipality of Coahuayana, near the border with the state of Colima.
The community police officers, who had been trying to maintain order in the region, were ambushed in the locality of La Presa. The injured were rushed to a hospital on the coast, while the bodies of the deceased were laid to rest on Sunday, leaving the community in mourning and fear of further violence.
Indigenous Uprising in San Ángel Zurumucapio
In response to the growing threat posed by the Los Viagras Cartel, the indigenous community of San Ángel Zurumucapio, located in the municipality of Ziracuaretiro, Michoacán, took the extraordinary step of arming themselves to defend against the criminal group’s extortions, kidnappings, and murders.
At a general assembly, the community members expressed their exhaustion and frustration with the continuous insecurity plaguing their town. The residents unanimously decided to take up arms, establishing barricades at the entrances and exits of the town to protect themselves from further criminal incursions.
In a statement, the community leaders announced their intention to defend their town, stating, “The indigenous community of San Ángel Zurumucapio, Michoacán, reports that today, Friday, August 23, 2024, the entire town is up in arms, due to the insecurity that we suffer day after day due to organized crime.” They also revealed that the cartel had been demanding 30 percent of the resources received by the indigenous self-government, in addition to targeting local businesses, avocado producers, and berry packers with extortion.
A Region on the Brink
As Michoacán continues to grapple with the escalating violence driven by this new criminal alliance, the situation remains volatile and unpredictable. The alliance between Los Viagras and CJNG has already resulted in significant loss of life and widespread fear, with communities like San Ángel Zurumucapio forced to take up arms in a desperate bid for survival.
The federal government faces increasing pressure to regain control of the region and dismantle these criminal networks. However, the resilience and firepower of these cartels, combined with their willingness to target both civilians and authorities alike, make the task a formidable one.
As the people of Michoacán endure another day of violence, the broader implications of this alliance for the region and the country as a whole remain uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the fight between these powerful criminal organizations and the Mexican state is far from over, and the toll on the civilian population continues to rise.