The fire of crime has flared up again in Michoacán this Wednesday, in the central Mexican Pacific, specifically in its northwest slope, the arc that goes from Morelia, the capital, to Zamora. The state video surveillance system has confirmed the existence of about twenty roadblocks since dawn, mainly in Zamora and Ecuandureo, a neighboring municipality. Videos of burned cars and trucks on roads flood social networks. For now, the reason for the criminal onslaught is unknown.
The president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has referred to the matter in her usual morning press conference, in response to a reporter’s question. “There is an operation to detain one or several relevant targets. Later the Security Cabinet will provide the information,” she said. The president explained that “that is why some places were taken over, and the Secretary of Defense and all necessary elements to support are there. It is an operation that has been underway since dawn.”
Neighboring regions remain on alert. The violent reactions of crime to government operations are common and usually transcend the political borders of the state. The governor of Jalisco, Pablo Lemús, has reported that state security forces are coordinating with the Federation in case of possible blockades in their territory. “So far no incident has been recorded in our territory, but we remain alert to any eventuality,” Lemus said.
Despite the lack of official information, the map of the blockades points to a name, common in the criminal photographs of the area for years, Heraclio Guerrero, alias Tío Lako. Leader of a gang associated with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Tío Lako maintains his area of influence in northern Michoacán, precisely in Ecuandureo and Tanhuato. Local media report the arrival of federal troops at Uruapan airport, the closest to the area, this Tuesday, as the starting point of the criminal reaction.
In February, after the Army operation in which Nemesio Oseguera, El Mencho, absolute leader of the CJNG, was killed, speculation about his possible successors has been constant in government narratives, both in Mexico and the United States. The subsequent arrest of one of the candidates for succession, Audias Flores, alias Jardinero, clarified the speculations and placed Mencho’s stepson, Juan Carlos Valencia, alias 03, at the head of the CJNG, above others, such as Gonzalo Mendoza, alias El Sapo.
The chaos caused by the departure of Mencho and then Jardinero from the criminal playing field makes it difficult to understand the role that Tío Lako has played since then. During the operation that ended with Mencho’s death, Tío Lako also lost one of his main allies, his own son, Rubén Guerrero, alias R1, who fell alongside the CJNG leader in the firefight that his personal guard and close associates had with the military. In any case, the Security Cabinet assumed that his father remained in his stronghold without major problems.
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