Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense classified more than 300 cartel attacks as ‘terrorism’

While no criminal organization in Mexico has been designated as a terrorist organization, the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) of Mexico has classified 377 acts of violence carried out by organized crime in the past decade as terrorist attacks.

Sedena registered 377 attacks between December 2012 and September 2022 which the military considered terrorist attacks, caused by organized crime, in which 1,765 improvised explosive devices (AA EE II) were used in 19 states of the country.

According to a Sedena document, leaked by the Guacamaya hacktivist group, the first event was recorded on December 14, 2012, with drones.

“Attacks with AA EE II carried out by organized crime groups represent a risk for the civilian population and authorities, which is why this secretariat maintains an operational deployment in areas with a criminal presence to counteract said activities,” it is established in the document that was presented at a meeting with the Northern Command and United States Security Agencies on September 1.

The document, prepared by the Counterterrorism Subsection S-2 EMDN, entitled Improvised explosive devices used by organized crime in Mexico, states that among the actions carried out by the Sedena against the use of these devices, which have been used mostly in Michoacán, Guanajuato, Jalisco, and Chiapas, the High-Level Specialized Committee on Disarmament, Terrorism and National Security was established.

Through this committee, in which the National Intelligence Center, the secretariats of Security, the Interior, Foreign Relations, Finance, National Defense, Communications, and the Navy participate, as well as the National Guard and the Attorney General of the Republic, coordination is carried out and operational groups are established for the “fight against terrorism” and “analyze risks and threats to national security.”

“There have been attacks with AA EE II in different parts of the country; However, the problem is focused on the states of Michoacán, Guanajuato, Jalisco, and Chiapas, perpetrated by organized crime groups against military and civilian personnel,” the hacked document states.

While no criminal organization in Mexico has been designated as a terrorist organization, the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) of Mexico has classified 377 acts . . .

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