Drug cartels vying for control of western Mexico are manufacturing their own explosive devices and armored vehicles for use in constant clashes. This trend is coupled with the increased use of drones to drop explosives and the use of makeshift mortars.
Over the weekend, Mexican authorities raided a ranch in Jiquilan, Michoacan state, a rural coastal area controlled by Miguel Ángel “El Migueladas” Gallegos and his armed group. This criminal group, known as Cartel de Jiquilán or Cartel de la Huacana, was once part of the Cartel Jalisco New Generation. They have since broken away and are now allied with another group called Los Biagras. Los Biagras, along with other smaller organizations, make up the Carteres Unidos or Pueblos Unidos.
Inside the ranch, authorities seized 117 explosive devices, more than 220 pounds of explosives, and numerous pieces of debris. The explosives and parts of devices in progress included makeshift grenades, mortars and explosives used in unmanned aerial vehicles, according to information released by the military.
Cartels in Michoacán and other parts of the country are using explosives in ongoing turf wars.
A few days later, at another ranch also linked to Migueladas, authorities raided a makeshift maintenance shop used by the gunmen to manufacture armored vehicles. Inside, cartel members were adding steel plates to various trucks and pickup trucks used in gunfights.
The raids on ranches in the Jiquilán and La Huacana areas came after El Migueladas' armed group carried out a series of ambush attacks on military units.
Editor's note: Breitbart Texas is recruiting citizen journalists willing to risk their lives to expose cartels that silence their communities in the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon. visited etc. Breitbart Texas Cartel Chronicles Published in both English and original Spanish. This article was written by José Luis Lara, a former key member who helped start the self-defense movement in Michoacán.
