164 members of the Mexican drug cartel “Pueblos Unidos” have been detained by the military and police in the state of Michoacán. The captured gangsters were armed, among others, with in 142 assault rifles and 42 guns.
The Mexican army and police attacked a convoy of 28 trucks and cars on Saturday.
Government forces surprised the cartel column by blocking its way with armored cars – according to the official statement of the Mexican authorities.
The armed cartel “Pueblos Unidos”, whose name can be translated as “United Villages” or “United Settlements”, was established in April 2021.
He acts as the alleged “local people’s defender” of the Michoacán people against drug cartels who pull “the usual tribute” from local avocado farmers.
In the state of Michoacán, the Mexican Attorney General’s Office and military intelligence discovered the activity of such big Mexican criminal organizations as the Jalisco drug cartel – “New Generation”, “Familia Michoacana” (“Michoacan Family”), “Nueva Familia Michoacana” ( “New Michoakan Family”), a cartel under the historical name of “Knights Templar” and some others.
Saturday’s operation by Mexican police forces and troops against the armed organization of the “Pueblos Unidos” cartel was an immediate response to a series of terrorist acts on its part.
“Pueblos Unidos” within several hours on Friday and at night from Friday to Saturday launched attacks on government institutions and residents of the city of Juárez, Chihuahuakilling 11 people and injuring 12, and setting fire to cars of government officials.
In the days leading up to these events, similar attacks by drug mafia also took place in the Mexican states of Jalisco and Guanajuato.