The murder of two agents from the Attorney General's Office, kidnapped by the group "Los Blancos de Troya", has caused violence in the area.
This group, linked to Los Viagras, has become one of the most bloodthirsty, attacking both security forces and residents.
The communities of Apatzingán, Buenavista, Aguililla, and Tepalcatepec are the most affected.
Clashes between hitmen and federal forces have left dozens of dead, but the violence doesn't subside.
Crimen organizado
Los Viagras and the CJNG: the war for Michoacán intensifies
The confrontation between these criminal groups doesn't stop. Los Viagras dominate the drug and arms trafficking routes, while the CJNG seeks to take control through violent attacks.
Roadblocks have become a common strategy, with drug traffickers setting vehicles on fire to halt the advance of the National Guard.
Transporters have reported that they must pay fees of up to 50,000 pesos to circulate without being attacked. The extortions affect both small merchants and large producers.
Farmers, especially those of avocado and lime, continue to be targets of organized crime, forced to pay "protection money" to be able to work.
Meanwhile, as the cartels fight for territorial control, the residents live in constant fear, not knowing if they will be the next victim of an execution or a kidnapping.
The government without response: insufficient patrols
Despite the operations of the National Guard and the Army, organized crime keeps its dominance in the region. The federal government has sent reinforcements to patrol the most affected areas, but the results are almost nil.
The inhabitants report that the authorities arrive, but don't really confront the criminal groups.
The security forces conduct sporadic patrols, but as soon as they leave, the cartels reimpose their law.
In many communities, the inhabitants prefer to turn to organized crime instead of the police, which demonstrates the lack of trust in the institutions.
Executions, kidnappings, and confrontations are part of daily life, and with each passing day, Michoacán sinks further.
