Since July 2021, the Chiapas border area has been marked by violence stemming from the struggle for territorial control between various criminal groups. Blockades, disappearances, kidnappings and confrontations with high caliber weapons have been reported; the last one was registered last Friday, July 15th.
Residents of different communities belonging to the municipalities of La Trinitaria and Frontera Comalapa reported that they had to leave and take refuge both in the municipal capitals and in neighboring towns for fear of being attacked. According to some testimonies, the confrontations began on Thursday night between organized crime groups in the Salvador, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Tierra Blanca ejidos and continued until Friday afternoon when the Army arrived and a confrontation took place between it and the armed groups. That same afternoon, blockades by armed persons were reported on the highway section that connects the municipality of La Trinitaria with Comitan.
The Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA) reported through a statement that as a result of its intervention, three people were arrested: Miguel Angel Gonzalez Guajardo, 31, originally from the State of Mexico; Aristoteles Benitez Rios, 39, and Jorge Santiago Solustio, 42, both from the State of Guerrero, and a .50-caliber Barrett rifle, seven hand grenades, and a 60-caliber mortar grenade were seized from them, a 40 mm caliber grenade, 15 weapons of different characteristics, 35 explosive devices, four bulletproof vests, 67 different chargers, a drone, a bag with approximately 300 grams of marijuana and three vehicles.
They also reported that a few hours later, in the municipality of La Trinitaria, an armored vehicle was found that had an adapted turret and inside it 12 rifles, two machine guns, grenades, grenade launchers, and different caliber cartridges. Both the detainees and the seized weapons were transferred to San Cristobal de Las Casas, where they were placed at the disposal of the authorities.
The border area continues to be a red flag in the state and due to the violence that has settled in the area, hundreds of families have been displaced from their communities without the possibility of a prompt return.
For more information in Spanish:
Narcotraficantes se enfrentan durante más de 24 horas en municipios fronterizos de Chiapas con Guatemala (Chiapas Paralelo 16 de julio 2022)
Chiapas: bandas de criminales se enfrentan durante horas (La Jornada 17 de julio 2022)
Tras enfrentamientos, el Ejército detiene a tres personas y confisca arsenal en Chiapas (Proceso 19 de julio 2022)
Para más información de SIPAZ:
Chiapas: Violencia en Chamic no da tregua a habitantes y personas que transitan por la zona (May 17, 2022)
Chiapas: Amenazan al párroco de Chicomuselo (March 17, 2022)
Chiapas/Guerrero: Desplazamiento forzado, entre crimen organizado y megaproyectos. (February 26, 2021)
Chiapas: militares aseguran arsenal belico en Frontera Comalapa (October 16, 2021)
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