Five Cartel Members Died After Shootout with Police in Cardenas, Tabasco

“El Lic” and “HEARST” for Borderland Beat 

The heat in Tabasco continues to rise with eight more cartel-related deaths in a region marked by the territory fights of La Barredora, CDN, and CJNG.

Warning: Some graphic images below this point.

The Latest Violence in Tabasco

The following is a translation of an article written by Tabasco Hoy 

The violence unleashed by cartel groups in Tabasco has left a trail of death in the municipalities of Centro and Cárdenas, now claiming two more victims. So far this year, the fight for control of the plaza has claimed the lives of 157 people, a devastating toll that continues to rise.

According to data collected by Grupo Cantón, the month of April has been especially violent, with 58 people murdered, including the recent cases in Centro and Cárdenas. This period has been the bloodiest seen in the last three years, according to data from the National Public Security System.

April 27 2024

Decapitated Body in Cardenas 

At dawn, in the Mexican Revolution ranch in Centro municipality, a decapitated body was found. Despite the authorities’ best efforts, the victim’s head could not be found. The FGE removed the body, while the police continued the search for the victim’s head.

April 26 2024

Dragged to Death in Cardenas 

On a path on the local road known as W59 in C9, the lifeless body of a young man was found. The torture marks evidenced the brutal beating to which he was subjected, presumably to the point of suffocation. In addition to the bruises and abrasions, they revealed that he was dragged several meters over the dirt road.

The victim showed tattoos on his arms and back, which could help the authorities identify him, while curious onlookers claimed that he was originally from the Santana ranch, where last Thursday there was a confrontation with the authorities that left five dead.

April 25 2024 

Shot in Comalcalco

Juan Antonio “N” was ambushed by hitmen while leaving a beverage store in Cuxcuxapa, Comalcalco. He tried to flee but was shot dead at least six times. His car, a blue Chevy, was left abandoned at the scene of the attack. News of his death spread quickly through the community, drawing his family to identify his body.

April 25 2024

5 Cartel Members Die after Shootout with Police in Cárdenas

The following is a translation of an article by XEVT 104.1 FM

A total of five alleged criminals were killed this Thursday at Santana ranch, in the municipality of Cárdenas in Tabasco after a gunbattle with state police officers. 

According to the initial police report and images that circulated on social media, the deceased were three men and two women.

Five trucks, a compact vehicle, four motorcycles, a long weapon, three short weapons and a grenade launcher, a bag with ammunition, a gun holster and two tactical vests were seized at the scene.

In addition, tear gas canisters (“un agente químico CS”), four plastic bags with drugs, a can with tire spikes; two scales; and bottles of gasoline. 

The area was cordoned off by the officers, who notified the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE ) to carry out a further investigation. 

On his official Twitter account, a spokesperson for the state government, Juan Carlos Castillejos Castillejos denied allegations that the five deceased were police officers and stated that five who died were alleged cartel members. 

Which Cartel Groups are Doing This? 

The following is a translation of an article by Presencia from January 2024

The commander of the 30th Military Zone, Héctor Francisco Morán, has denied that major drug cartels are operating in the state of Tabasco. 

He clarified that the criminal acts were being perpetrated by groups that refer to themselves as national cartel groups, such as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Northeast Cartel (CDN). 

“I have always been under the impression that we do not really have cartels here. They are just a group of vandals who stay the same. Before they called themselves “La Barredora”, but later they called themselves Cartel del Noreste when it was no longer convenient for them to be La Barredora. And now they are calling themselves the Jalisco Cartel,” said Morán. 

“They operate according to their own interests. They are local criminal groups. We have not seen people from out of state in the arrests we have made so far,” added the commander.

Francisco Morán’s statements differ with Army intelligence that was leaked by the Guacamaya hackers. In one of the documents titled “CJNG in Tabasco”, it is stated that a CJNG cell called “La Barredora” operates in Tabasco, whose presence extends to Veracruz and Campeche.

There were also records of another group known as Los Panteras, led by Benjamín Mollinedo Montiel, arrested in September 2021 in Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche.

In a different report leaked by Guacamaya, this one by the Southeast Regional Intelligence Fusion Center (Cerfise) from 2022, it was stated that alleged members of the CJNG were placed within the management of the state police during the administration of Adán Augusto López.

Sources: XEVT 104.1 FM, Tabasco Hoy, Presencia

Photo Sources: Tabasco Hoy, Charro Negro, Documenting Reality