“Char” for Borderland Beat
This article translated and reposted from RÍODOCE
Mexican government security agencies increased the number of agents in the municipality of Caborca, Sonora, on Wednesday, due to a wave of violence unleashed in the region following the capture of the leader of a criminal group called “La Chapiza”.
Since last weekend, in the municipalities of Caborca and Pitiquito, there have been several armed confrontations between rival organized crime groups, as well as the incursion of a group of heavily armed hitmen vehicles, which left at least three dead, four wounded, and according to a group of mothers who tracked the victims, more than 15 people missing.
On Tuesday, June 27, the Sonora Security Bureau confirmed the capture of Jesus Aurelio Ibarra Ramiro, alias “Comandante Aurelio”, one of the priority targets for capture for being a generator of violence in the region and who was identified as the head of the plaza for “Los Chapitos” of the Sinaloa Cartel in the Upper Gulf of California.
“After last night’s shootings in the neighboring city of #Caborca #Sonora authorities mere spectators.”-@RalphRevueltaSonora
In the border region of Sonora and Baja California, the criminal cell of ‘La Chapiza’ disputes with ‘Los Rusos’ of the Mayo Zambada and the Caborca Cartel of the Quintero family, the plaza through which, in addition to the transfer of drugs, weapons and undocumented migrants, the trafficking of protected species such as totoaba fish, sea cucumbers and cannonball jellyfish to the Asian market takes place.
Since Ibarra Ramiro’s capture, the criminal cells in Caborca have unleashed violence. Between Saturday night and early Sunday morning, there were several confrontations that left three dead and four wounded.
On Sunday and Monday, the Mexican Army, the National Guard and the State Police carried out operations in the region; however, criminal groups disseminated through social networks, videos of armed vehicles patrolling the streets of Caborca with impunity.
The search collective for missing persons, Rastreadoras de Caborca, has reported the disappearance of at least 15 people so far this week, most notably the disappearance of Fatima del Rosario Martinez, a young woman who was violently taken by armed men from her home on Monday, July 3, when the region was supposedly under armor by state and federal security forces.
In light of the upsurge in violence in the region, Sonora government authorities on Wednesday announced an increase in the number of soldiers and National Guard agents in the conflict zone.
The alleged captured criminal leader faces a possible overall sentence of up to 78 years in prison for the crimes of carrying a firearm, aggravated homicide and disappearance committed by private individuals.
He has been blamed for violence in Sonora and Baja California, and allegedly participated in a massacre between criminals that left 11 dead in the town of San Vicente, during an off-road vehicle race.
Aristegui noticias