Drug Cartel Sets Roadway Bombs in Western Mexico, Killing Six and Challenging Government

Drug Cartel Sets Off Coordinated Roadway Bombs in Western Mexico, Killing Six

MEXICO CITY – A drug cartel in western Mexico carried out a series of coordinated roadway bombings that resulted in the deaths of four police officers and two civilians, according to officials on Wednesday. The governor of Jalisco state described the explosions as a “trap” set by the cartel to target law enforcement personnel.

The blasts occurred late Tuesday in the township of Tlajomulco and were so powerful that they left craters in the road, destroyed multiple vehicles, and injured 14 others, said Luis Méndez, the chief prosecutor of Jalisco state. This incident marked the first time that a Mexican cartel used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to kill law enforcement personnel, highlighting the escalating military-style tactics employed by drug cartels in the country.

The two civilian victims were in a passing vehicle when the IEDs detonated. Méndez suggested that the bombs may have been remotely triggered, stating that the blast occurred “at the moment they wanted.” Among the wounded were 12 civilians, including three children aged 9, 13, and 14, some of whom are in serious condition. Authorities also had to defuse an eighth IED that failed to detonate, emphasizing the ongoing danger in the area.

Governor Enrique Alfaro of Jalisco state revealed that an anonymous caller had tipped off a volunteer search group about a clandestine burial site near the roadway, leading to the officers falling into the cartel’s trap. Volunteer search groups, often comprised of mothers of missing individuals, have been assisting the police in locating the more than 110,000 missing people in Mexico. However, the governor announced the temporary suspension of police escorts for these volunteer searches to ensure the safety of civilians.

Hector Flores, a leader of one of the search groups in Jalisco, stated that it did not appear that any search volunteers were present in the convoy that was targeted. Governor Alfaro described the attack as an unprecedented act that showcases the capabilities of drug cartels and represents a direct challenge to the Mexican government.

While the governor did not name the suspected cartel responsible for the attack, the Jalisco drug cartel has extensive experience in using IEDs and bomb-dropping drones. In 2022, IEDs wounded 10 soldiers and killed a civilian in the neighboring state of Michoacan. Additionally, another cartel used a car bomb to kill a National Guard officer in Guanajuato state on Tuesday.

The region around Guadalajara has witnessed violent clashes between factions of the Jalisco cartel, which has previously been linked to the use of IEDs in Mexico. The cartel has been engaged in a long-standing battle with the local Viagras gang, also known as United Cartels, for control of the area. These confrontations have involved the use of trenches, pillboxes, homemade armored cars, and drones modified to drop small bombs.

The use of bomb-carrying drones by the cartels has caused significant terror in Michoacan, surpassing the impact of land mines. Although initially crude and dangerous, drone warfare has evolved, resulting in devastating explosions that can even tear through metal structures.

The attack in Tlajomulco poses a setback for volunteer search groups that rely on anonymous tips to locate mass grave sites. These searchers often suspect that the tips come from former cartel members who were involved in the kidnapping and killing of their relatives. Despite operating under an uneasy understanding with the cartels, the volunteer groups emphasize that their goal is solely to find the remains of their loved ones and provide them with a proper burial.

However, since 2021, six volunteer search activists have been killed in Mexico. While the motives behind these killings remain unclear, activists believe that the cartels have attempted to intimidate searchers, particularly when they investigate active grave sites.

How did the drug cartel in western Mexico target law enforcement personnel through the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs)?

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In an alarming escalation of violence, a drug cartel in western Mexico carried out a meticulously planned series of roadway bombings that resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including four police officers and two civilians. The governor of Jalisco state characterized the explosions as a deliberate “trap” set by the cartel to target law enforcement personnel.

The blasts, which occurred in the township of Tlajomulco late on Tuesday, were so powerful that they caused craters in the road, destroyed numerous vehicles, and left 14 others injured. This marked the first instance where a Mexican cartel utilized improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to kill law enforcement personnel, highlighting the increasingly militaristic tactics employed by drug cartels in the country.

The two civilian victims were tragically caught in the crossfire while they were in a passing vehicle when the IEDs detonated. It is suspected that the bombs were remotely triggered, as the blast occurred precisely “at the moment they wanted,” according to Luis Méndez, the chief prosecutor of Jalisco state. The severity of the incident was further emphasized by the fact that authorities had to successfully defuse an eighth IED that failed to detonate, underscoring the ongoing danger in the area.

Governor Enrique Alfaro of Jalisco state revealed that an anonymous caller had tipped off a volunteer search group about a hidden burial site near the roadway, inadvertently leading the officers into the cartel’s trap. Volunteer search groups, composed mainly of mothers in search of their missing loved ones, have been assisting the police in the daunting task of finding over 110,000 missing people in Mexico. However, to prioritize the safety of civilians, the governor has temporarily suspended police escorts for these volunteer searches.

Hector Flores, a leader of one of the search groups in Jalisco, asserted that it did not appear that any of their volunteers were present in the targeted convoy. Governor Alfaro described the attack as an unprecedented display of the drug cartels’ capabilities, underscoring the urgent need for law enforcement to combat these criminal organizations. The incident serves as a distressing reminder of the ongoing violence and instability caused by drug cartels in Mexico.