Mayhem in Michoacan: Mexican Security Forces Operations Continue
2011-01-22
Posted by: badanov
For a map, click here. For a map of Michoacan, click here
Mexican counternarcotics operations continued in the last 48 hours in the west coast state of Michoacan despite a call for a truce from La Familia Michoacana drug cartel starting last month, according to several Mexican news reports.
- Three agents of the Policia Federal were wounded and two armed suspects were captured in fighting in the Yurecuaro municipality (county) Friday evening. Armed suspects fired on a Policia Federal unit on patrol on the Vista Hermosa-La Piedad freeway at about Kilometer 4 at about 1940 hrs. Agents also seized two vehicles in the aftermath. Unofficial reports were that the suspects had fled the Lazaro Cardenas de La Piedad colony after the shooting of a drug dealer, when they encountered the federal agents.
- A Policia Federal detachment came under fire on a road near the Ecuandureo municipality at about 1915 hrs Friday. One vehicle was struck twice by gunfire, and no one was reported hurt and no suspects arrested.
- A detachment of the Mexican 37th Battalion became involved in a pursuit and a firefight with armed suspects in Ario de Rayon Friday afternoon, arrested five armed suspects as well as seized a number of munitions and other contraband. The unit rolled up on a Mazda pickup truck and a Honda Civic with armed suspects aboard initiating the pursuit. When trapped, the suspects exited their vehicles and initated a firefight where two of them were wounded. Three others surrendered shortly afterwards.
Detained were Pioquinto Huato Jimenez, 31, Guerrero, Alejandro Covarrubias Galvez, 26, and Victor Estrada Alvarez. Wounded in the gunfight were Sebastian Sanchez Benitez, 29, who was formerly a police officer in Jacona, Michoacan and Eduardo Cruz Rubalcaba, 39.
Soldiers also seized two AR-15 and two AK-47 assault rifles, two .45 caliber pistols, 33 magazines, more than 800 rounds of ammunition, two tear gas grenades, cell phones and the two vehicles.
- A Policia Federal unit on Morelia, the capital of Michoacan, seized nine vehicles and arrested an unknown number of suspects at a car lot Friday. One of the seized vehicles, a Nissan Murano with damage from gunfire is said to have been involved in an earlier firefight with security forces. All nine vehicles are said to have been stolen.
Seized were one Lincoln Navigator, one Alfa Plus Toyota, one Ford Expedition, two Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks, one Jeep Grand Cherokee one Ford Lobo (F-150) pickup truck and a Land Rover SUV.