On Saturday, February 8th, authorities carried out Operation Atarraya, closing down 312 barbershops and beauty salons in the State of Mexico. Despite claiming that the establishments were linked to organized crime, the owners allege that it was a setup. Among them is Gustavo Villegas, who recalls with indignation how the agents thoroughly searched his establishment without finding anything illicit.
The Attorney General's Office of the State acknowledged that there are complaints about possible irregularities in the searches of the operation and committed to investigating what happened. Meanwhile, numerous businesses remain closed, leaving entrepreneurs like Villegas without their main source of income overnight.
Gustavo Villegas, owner of JC Barber Studio, recounts how the agents arrived without presenting a search warrant and began the inspection, even opening products and meticulously examining the premises. According to his testimony, one of his friends was also a victim of the same situation, with agents claiming to have found drugs in the bathroom of his establishment.
At the end of Operation Atarraya, the affected individuals reported that the authorities had 'planted' drugs in their businesses as justification for the operation, preventing them from reopening. Due to the lack of clarity and support from the authorities of the State of Mexico, merchants demand a prompt solution and the possibility of resuming their commercial activities.
Gustavo Villegas, along with other affected owners, plans to file formal complaints against the authorities. The uncertainty and damage to their businesses lead them to distrust the intentions of law enforcement and demand transparency in government actions to prevent similar situations in the future.
