“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
Video translation is as follows:
Newscaster: This area is clearly infested, so says the military. And like a plague, as crime tends to be, it has spread to the other side of the border. Authorities from Guatemala alerted the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs about the presence of members from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel who cross the border from Chiapas into its territory. The following is a story by Jorge MartÃnez.
Jorge Martinez: Guatemalan authorities have identified these two homes as being safe houses of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. They are less than 200 meters from the international border that divides Canton Cheguate, Guatemala with Motozintla, Chiapas. Just several weeks ago criminals set up a checkpoint there to inspect vehicles and people. They were carrying ballistic vests, weapons, and were traveling in this vehicle. At the beginning of January these same criminals shot at Guatemalan soldiers. The incident was the first direct attack by drug traffickers against the security forces of that country.
Commander Alex Monolo: We had never been directly attacked until the 8th of January. A group of armed man crossed the border and ambushed a military unit that was in this exact spot where I am. They attacked our military unit, they in turn reacted. And as a result two arrests were made.
Jorge Martinez: The individuals arrested, in Guatemalan territory, confirmed that they worked for the Jalisco Cartel. And that they were originally from Chiapas. Since March of last year up until recently Guatemala has recorded twenty sightings of armed individuals in their territory. And they also notified the Mexican Foreign Ministry.
Commander Alex Monolo: We have received complaints in which they indicated to us that vehicles passed through here, there have been several occasions of this happening, of people armed, carrying assault rifles. Just as well, of individuals on motorcycles, 10 to 15 dirt bikes with the same amount of people armed with rifles.
Jorge Martinez: The Guatemalan government deployed 2,000 troops in Canton Cheguate to strengthen surveillance and the entrance of Mexican citizens.
Canton Cheguate, Guatemala
Distance between Motozintla and Niquivil
* The MZ initials for Mayo Zambada have been spray painted on concrete wall.