“Violence continues in the state of Michoacán”, deplore The Country Mexico. At least 20 people were killed on Sunday by an armed group in the town of Zinapecuaro. According to information from the police, the assassins would have “opened fire on bettors, on the sidelines of a clandestine cockfight”. The number of injured has not yet been made public.
A vast operation was launched by the police to find the murderers, indicates the BBC. “According to witnesses, the armed men, who fired indiscriminately into the crowd, fled in several cars, explains the British media. The motive of the attackers is not known, but a large number of criminal gangs are present in the area.”
Wave of violence
Michoacán, a region that produces avocados and lemons, is regularly subject to violence linked to cartels and drug trafficking, but also to the smuggling of stolen fuel. “The government has deployed thousands of National Guard troops to the region since the start of the year, remember The Country Mexico. Despite everything, more than 200 people are killed there each month and 2 journalists have been murdered there.”
However, this wave of violence is not unique to the Michoacán, assure the BBC. For some time now, all of Mexico has been the victim of settling of scores between enemy gangs. The British media adds:
“In recent months, gunmen have targeted funerals and wakes, as well as bars and nightclubs in various parts of the country, with the aim of eliminating as many rivals as possible.”
Faced with the increase in violence from the drug cartels, the United States even decided in February to suspend its imports of Mexican avocados, as a sign of protest. In particular, threats had been made against an American health inspector, stationed in Michoacán.