Puerto Vallarta, Mexico — In the fall of 2021, Michoacán became the epicenter of a significant and controversial operation in Mexico’s ongoing fight against organized crime. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), notorious for its extreme violence and relentless territorial expansion, initiated an aggressive offensive on the borders with Jalisco, displacing thousands and drawing national and international scrutiny.
To counter this advance, the Mexican Army reportedly adopted a controversial strategy involving collaboration with local criminal groups opposed to the CJNG, led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias El Mencho. This revelation comes from a report by the International Crisis Group titled “The Labyrinth of the Generals: Crime and the Military in Mexico.”
A Controversial Alliance
The report indicates that members of two criminal groups, a senior federal official, soldiers, and local authorities coordinated efforts to form a united front against the CJNG. This de facto alliance facilitated joint operations between the Army Special Forces and local criminal entities.
Initially, the Army Special Forces showed reluctance to engage decisively against CJNG combatants due to fears of being accused of crimes against humanity—a concern with severe national and international ramifications. However, assurances from local groups that the bodies of slain combatants would be disposed of in clandestine graves led the soldiers to proceed with their mission.
Mexican Army Kills 400 Cartel Members and Disappears Their Bodies
In a series of engagements in and around Taixtán, Tepalcatepec, and El Terrero, Buenavista, the Special Forces managed to eliminate nearly 400 CJNG combatants. Despite this significant loss for the CJNG, the cartel quickly reorganized and continued its activities, including launching new attacks against soldiers of the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena).
Crisis Group notes, “A source confirmed that around 400 people died. These deaths had not been reported previously, nor are they reflected in the statistics of homicides or disappearances.” The collaboration allowed for the disposal of bodies in a manner that kept these deaths out of official records, a fact confirmed by both criminal leaders and state officials.
One criminal leader encapsulated the resilience of such organizations by stating, “There are always human replacements,” highlighting the ability of criminal groups to swiftly replenish their ranks.
Broader Implications and Agreements
The International Crisis Group report underscores a broader, disturbing trend in Mexico’s security landscape. Despite President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration deploying more troops than any prior administration, violence remains at alarming levels. The report suggests a tacit, sometimes explicit, understanding between the Mexican State and criminal groups to reduce overt violence in exchange for greater operational freedoms.
In states like Michoacán, Veracruz, Colima, and Guerrero, this dynamic has allowed criminal organizations to diversify their illicit activities while maintaining a lower profile in terms of visible violence. The relationship between authorities and criminal groups is complex, with security forces sometimes reaching unwritten agreements that allow criminal entities to increase their territorial control and expand both their illicit and legal operations.
Challenges and the Path Forward
The lack of transparency and accountability in these operations presents significant challenges. Military operations, such as those in Michoacán, are often conducted without adequate oversight, leading to allegations of crimes and abuses by security forces that remain uninvestigated.
The revelations in the Crisis Group report highlight the uncomfortable reality of collusion between authorities and criminal groups. While these strategies may have temporarily reduced homicide rates in some areas, they have allowed criminal organizations to strengthen their control over local communities, diversify their income streams, and expand their influence.
As Mexico approaches crucial elections, Crisis Group’s analysis calls for a reassessment of security strategies to address the root causes of crime and violence. Without a comprehensive and transparent approach, the cycle of violence and the consolidation of criminal power are likely to continue, posing ongoing threats to national security and stability.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico — In the fall of 2021, Michoacán became the epicenter of a significant and controversial operation in Mexico's ongoing fight against organized crime. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), notorious for its extreme violence and relentless territorial expansion, initiated an aggressive offensive on the borders with Jalisco, displacing thousands and drawing national and international scrutiny.
