A series of attacks against elements of the Mexican Army and the National Guard on the borders of Jalisco and Michoacán resulted in a tragic toll of five soldiers dead and four wounded, including two state agents. These events have been linked to a cell of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), led by Heráclito Guerrero Martínez, alias "El Tío Laco," identified as one of the main operatives of the criminal group in the region and a lieutenant of the CJNG in Michoacán, close to "El Mencho," the leader of the Jalisco cartel.
The deadliest ambush took place on the Morelia-Zamora highway, near Chilchota, where a convoy of the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) was attacked while attempting to change tires on a stretch with spikes. Subsequently, ambushes were reported against soldiers in Tanhuato and against members of the National Guard in La Piedad. The criminals also blocked several stretches of road in Michoacán with commercial vehicles and burned vehicles on the West Highway.
In light of these attacks, families from towns such as El Guayabo and El Alcalde had to leave their homes and head towards Apatzingan, Michoacán, seeking safety. After the clashes, it was reported that four alleged CJNG members were captured, along with weapons, magazines, tactical vests, and vehicles used in the attacks.
Regarding the casualty figures from the organized crime side, it was unofficially mentioned that three hitmen had been killed by federal forces on the Tanhuato-La Piedad highway, although this information has not been confirmed. Federal authorities continue operations in the area to locate the rest of the aggressors and dismantle the criminal structure responsible for these attacks.
