Criminal groups are vying for different territories in Mexico not only for drug or migrant routes but also for the markets that traverse those routes, public transportation concessions, mining sites, forests susceptible to logging, among other interests. According to Carlos Flores, a researcher at CIESAS, the recent massacre at the Cantaritos bar in Querétaro has exposed the fragility of security in various states of the country. For David Saucedo, a crime expert, the idea that certain regions are exempt from violence is a mere construction of the authorities.
The arrest of a person allegedly involved in the Querétaro attack reveals that organized crime groups have interests in places where violence seemed to be absent. Despite authorities describing the incident as a settling of accounts, experts call for caution and the exploration of various lines of investigation. The presence of CJNG in Querétaro has challenged the perception of states as havens of violence.
Disputes between criminal groups have unleashed a wave of violence in different states, even in those that used to be relatively calm. The control of territories by different organizations has transformed the economic and social environment of cities and rural areas. With broken alliances and the emergence of CJNG, violence has increased in areas previously considered safe.
Simplistic explanations about the decrease in violence in certain regions are not upheld by the reality of the escalating conflicts between criminal groups. The struggle for control over spaces is becoming increasingly intense, marked by clashes and indiscriminate violence. The presence of CJNG has been identified as a catalyst for these changes, permeating structures and generating higher levels of confrontation.
The recent seizure of cocaine in Sonora, along with other events throughout the country, reflects the complexity of the criminal landscape in Mexico. Areas considered safe have been affected by the growing violence associated with the dispute between different cartels. Authorities must thoroughly consider the various hypotheses related to violent events, as the complexity of the situation demands a detailed and careful analysis.
