By “El Huaso” for Borderland Beat
Members of the Cartel Santa Rosa de Lima sabotaged train rails near Cortazar in an attempt to derail a train loaded with high value electronics, reported government officials. The sabotage was detected by an engineer before the train arrived.
The criminals cut a 40 cm portion out of the track, damage that would have likely derailed the train.
Authorities claimed that this event is further evidence of the weakening of the CSRL, who have been hammered by the CJNG and the government for years, and are increasingly focused on diverse income streams to make up for the loss of stolen fuel revenue. In recent years, the CSRL has been observed extorting street vendors and even stealing milk.
Cargo theft is becoming a major concern in Mexico, with central Mexican states like Guanajuato as the epicenters, due to the major highways running up the middle of the country.