Guatemala Deploys Special Forces Amid Cartel Violence

Guatemala has mobilized special forces, known as Kaibiles, to safeguard its northern border with Mexico. This decision comes shortly after armed groups linked to a drug cartel from Mexico invaded the region, executing violent attacks in rural communities.

The incursion took place on December 8, when cartel gunmen crossed into Guatemala and targeted at least six areas, affecting cities like San Marcos and Huehuetango, according to a statement from Guatemala’s Defense Ministry.

In response, troops stationed along the border confronted the gunmen, resulting in intense gunfights, during which one soldier sustained injuries. Reports indicate that one assailant was captured, while three others were killed in the altercation. Additionally, the military apprehended three more injured gunmen who required medical assistance.

There’s some uncertainty about which cartel orchestrated the attack. On Wednesday, Mexican Defense Secretary Ricardo Torrevira pointed to two major groups in the region—the Sinaloa Cartel and Cartel Chiapas y Guatemala, a faction of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Both organizations have been labeled as foreign terrorist entities by the U.S. government.

Following these violent events, the Guatemalan government reinforced its presence by deploying Kaibiles to the border. Concurrently, the Mexican military also dispatched troops to its side of the border in Chiapas.

In recent years, the violence in Chiapas has surged. The Jalisco cartel has made significant strides into territories previously dominated by the Sinaloa cartel, and this turf war largely centers around control of drug and human smuggling routes into Mexico.