The authorities of Mexico have arrested this Wednesday nine alleged members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) during a large operation carried out in the state of Michoacán, an intervention that triggered roadblocks and various episodes of violence in around a dozen municipalities in the west of the country.
In an official statement, the Secretariat of Defense has reported these arrests and has specified that among those arrested are the daughter and partner of Heraclio Guerrero Martínez, known as "Tío Lako," identified as the leader of the CJNG in the states of Michoacán and Jalisco.
The authorities also hold "Tío Lako" responsible for "ordering the attacks" against elements of the National Guard on February 22, following the death of Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, alias "El Mencho," during an operation carried out in the municipality of Tapalpa, in Jalisco, which triggered serious disturbances in up to 14 states of the country.
As part of this operation, security forces have seized two properties, more than 60 vehicles —including one armored—, five machine guns of different calibers, nine "long" guns and one short gun, as well as cartridges, magazines, explosive devices, and "various drugs."
The nine detainees have been transferred to Mexico City, where they will be at the disposal of the Attorney General's Office to continue with the investigations, carry out the "relevant forensic actions and determine their legal situation."
The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, had previously indicated that the violent incidents recorded in Michoacán were linked to a series of operations by federal forces against "several relevant targets" of the CJNG.
The events have impacted a dozen municipalities, with special incidence in Zamora, La Piedad, and Jiquilpan, as well as in several stretches of roads —some of which connect Michoacán with the neighboring state of Jalisco—, in a context of strong deployment of security forces in the locality of Tinaja de Vargas.