Criminal organizations intensify chemical bomb attacks in Michoacán

In the small town of Coahuayana, located in the state of Michoacan, Mexico, residents have been living under siege since April 3, 2023, due to the takeover by the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG). The CJNG, known as the most powerful and expanding cartel in Mexico, has been using explosives and chemical substances dropped by drones, causing itching, stinging in the respiratory system, and feelings of suffocation among the local population.

This takeover marks one more step in the bellicose escalation of this conflict and an "arms race" between organized crime groups, according to local observers. The Apatzingan Human Security Observatory has warned that the use of such substances could escalate the arms and weaponry in the region, further endangering the lives of innocent civilians.

The CJNG has constructed defensive trenches across multiple state highways in Michoacan, making it difficult for law enforcement and emergency services to reach the affected areas. The town's infrastructure has been severely impacted, and hundreds of people have been forced to take refuge due to the violence.

Inhabitants and displaced population of nearby towns, such as Chinicuila and Ostula, have reported that hundreds of CJNG hitmen entered and took over the communities of Palos Mariás, El Órgano, and Zapotán on April 3, 2023. The current names of leaders or key members of La Familia Michoacana active in the Coahuayana region are not available in the provided search results.

The CJNG has also announced an irruption in Michoacan and sent a message of an affront to the Sinaloa Cartel in Zacatecas, further fuelling concerns about the escalating violence in the region. This conflict between the two powerful cartels is causing widespread fear and uncertainty among the local population.

It is crucial that the Mexican authorities take immediate action to restore peace and security in Coahuayana and the surrounding areas. The use of chemical substances and explosives by organized crime groups is a clear violation of human rights and international law, and those responsible must be held accountable.

This report is based on information provided by Proceso.