Six people lost their lives in the ambushes and confrontations that took place between armed civilians and personnel from the National Guard and the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) on the borders of Jalisco and Michoacán. In response to these events, on March 17, four individuals allegedly involved in the attacks were arrested.
According to authorities, Jesús Rivera Aguirre, alias 'Don Chuy', who is identified as the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), is said to have personally directed the attacks. Despite being arrested at the end of February, 'Don Chuy' is now free. The armed confrontations and narcoblocking that erupted in response to his capture left three officers injured.
The confrontations intensified when a group of soldiers was ambushed by armed individuals while attempting to repair their vehicle, resulting in five military personnel dead and four seriously injured. Following these incidents, operations by the National Guard and Sedena were deployed in localities such as La Barca, Ocotlán, and Poncitlán in Jalisco, leading to the arrest of four armed individuals in a truck with a large arsenal.
'Don Chuy' has been linked to criminal activities in several municipalities of Michoacán and is accused of various crimes such as kidnapping, extortion, vehicle theft, and drug trafficking. His recent release due to deficiencies in due process was carried out by Judge Rubén García Mateos. The governor of Michoacán, Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, blames 'Don Chuy' for the criminal operations in the region and the high level of violence in the so-called 'Death Corridor'.
According to investigations, the violent actions were ordered by Heraclio Guerrero Martínez, known as 'El Tío Lako', a member of the close circle of the CJNG, who controls the region between the three states. At various points along the border area between Jalisco and Michoacán, ambushes took place that claimed the lives of two National Guard members, while in another attack, a military truck was damaged by objects thrown by the criminals.
