Criminal Group La Maña Threatens Police with Narco Messages and Severed Pig Heads in Guanajuato

By “El Huaso” for Borderland Beat

A criminal group left four ice chests with severed pig heads and threatening messages directed at local police officers in the neighboring municipalities of Pueblo Nuevo and Irapuato, Guanajuato. Leaving pig heads next to a narco message is a common element of cartel messaging against security forces.

The message translates as follows:

This is for FSPS (Fuerzas de Seguridad Pública del Estado) who go around blowing the Jalisco Cartel, since you keep on going after our families we are going to hit your families, we know where they are, want to find out? Keep on with your bull shit. We remind you the fight is with La Maña, we reiterate, we respect the Army, National Guard, and AIC (Agencia de Investigación Criminal) Gery’s group, we respect you.

Signed, La Maña

Severed pig heads are commonly left next to narco messages directed at police officers and government officials in Mexico, Guanajuato security expert David Saucedo told InSight Crime.

Each year, around two dozen are left around the country next to narco messages directed at security forces and the government.

La Maña is a generic term used by many criminal groups, in a similar manner to “La Mera Verga”. It is unclear who this criminal group is.

An interesting element of this message is the violent threat against the FSPE, followed by La Maña reiterating their respect and wish for peace with the Army, National Guard, and AIC. This highlights the complex web of alliances and vendettas between criminal actors and different levels of security forces in Mexico.

The AIC in particular have been targeted in the past by the CJNG, who attempted to use a remoted detonated IED in an attack in Irapuato last year, as reported by Borderland Beat. The CSRL are suspected of using an IED to attack Municipal Police, but ended up injuring ten National Guard soldiers instead, as reported by Borderland Beat.

Graphic by HEARST

These threats will be taken especially seriously in Guanajuato, which is the most dangerous state for police officers in Mexico. So far this year, Causa en Común’s database on police killings in Mexico reveals that 47 police killing have occurred this year in the state. Nationwide, 235 police officers have been killed.

According to the most recent government data from June this year, there have been 1,674 homicides in the state of Guanajuato, the most violent state in Mexico by homicide count every year since 2018. This means that almost a quarter (23.1%) of homicides in all of Mexico happen in Guanajuato. Most of this violence is related to the CJNG’s conflict with several local groups for control.

Sources: InSight Crime, Periodico Correo, Informe de seguridad, 11 de julio, Borderland Beat Archives IED – 2022, Borderland Beat Archives – IED 2023, Causa en Común