Two young men were killed and one more was injured in a shooting inside a clandestine bar in Nezahualcóyotl, Estado de México.
The attack occurred during the early morning when allegedly a discussion among attendees escalated into a shooting.
Escena del crimen
Witnesses claimed that the place had been operating illegally for some time and was a regular spot for alcohol consumption and sale, apparently without intervention from the authorities.
The bodies were found with multiple gunshot wounds, while a third individual was taken to a local hospital.
The attack occurred in an improvised bar inside a house adapted to sell alcohol illegally, which was cordoned off by police and personnel from the state prosecutor's office.
Residents of the area reported that this clandestine bar had already been reported repeatedly, but allegedly the municipal authorities did not act in time.
"There were always screams, loud music, and cars arriving at all hours. It was evident that illegal things were happening there," said a resident who requested anonymity.
These clandestine bars operate with the support of criminal networks, taking advantage of the lack of surveillance and corruption to generate violence and drug dealing.
The government of Nezahualcóyotl, led by the Morena party member Adolfo Cerqueda, has not made any strong statements on the matter, beyond generic promises to strengthen security.
Meanwhile, the violence rates in the municipality continue to rise, with no visible strategies to dismantle the clandestine bars that keep proliferating with total impunity.
The state prosecutor's office indicated that it will continue with the investigations and that one of the main lines points to a settling of scores between criminal groups.
These clandestine bars operate with the support of criminal networks, taking advantage of the lack of surveillance and corruption to generate violence and drug dealing.
They operate in residential areas without any regulation, which puts the residents of the area at direct risk. Many times, the neighbors prefer to remain silent for fear of reprisals, while the authorities ignore the complaints or pretend to be unaware of the situation.
Besides drug trafficking, other crimes such as human trafficking, extortion, and exploitation of minors are committed in these places. These spaces become recruitment points for young people, whom organized crime lures with easy money.
The impunity with which they operate reinforces the presence of crime in everyday life. What should be a safe space for families ends up becoming a focus of violence and social decay.
