The departure of General José Alfredo Ortega Reyes as Secretary of Public Security of Michoacán has generated a series of alarming consequences. Ortega had managed to establish a solid relationship of trust and coordination between the Civil Guard, the Armed Forces, and the National Guard. However, with his departure, this balance was broken, leaving space for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and Los Viagras to establish an alliance, forming the Michoacán New Generation Cartel.
This new criminal alliance poses a serious threat to the state of Michoacán, as the CJNG is expected to intensify its criminal activities, such as extortion, incursions into new criminal businesses, and the elimination of rivals. The region was already facing pressures from criminal groups in terms of extortion of agricultural producers, especially those growing limes in Tierra Caliente.
Ortega Reyes's management had made progress in pacifying the state, but his removal brought about a series of setbacks. The purging of Civil Guard commanders linked to criminal groups, although necessary, created a vacuum that has been exploited by the CJNG and Los Viagras to strengthen their presence in the region. There has been an increase in the use of high-caliber weaponry by this new alliance, which has contributed to rising violence and insecurity in Michoacán.
The lack of a decisive response from authorities, combined with the complicity of some local officials, has allowed criminal violence in Michoacán to persist and intensify. Constant murders, extortions, and rampant impunity are creating an oppressive environment, especially for agricultural producers who have been targets of extortion.
The governor of Michoacán, Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, dismissed Ortega Reyes and appointed a replacement without experience in security issues, which has been criticized given the current crisis. The inaction of local authorities has led to an increase in violence in the region, with frequent attacks, including the use of drones laden with explosives characteristic of the CJNG.
The situation in Michoacán is concerning, with a worsening criminal landscape and a population suffering the consequences of prevailing insecurity. Without decisive actions and an effective strategy from the authorities, criminal violence in the region could worsen, putting the lives of residents and the economic development of the area at risk.