Morelia, Michoacán- The Secretary of National Defense reported that elements of the Mexican Army in coordination with the National Guard and the Michoacán Police, entered the municipality of Aguililla, last Wednesday, February 8.
In order to carry out operations to strengthen the rule of law in the Tierra Caliente region of Michoacán, Sedena explained that said deployment is developed based on an organized strategy in coordination with the State Government, which consists of three phases:
1. Installation of the dialogue table for the pacification of Aguililla.
2. Implementation of social programs.
3. Entry and release of localities with the presence of organized crime.
In a statement, the agency explained that the conditions exist to carry out the third phase since, initially, the liberation of roads and towns in rural areas was carried out, avoiding confrontation with the social base of criminal organizations that exerted pressure between the habitants.
Subsequently, units of Paratroopers, Special Forces and Infantry of the Mexican Army, with personnel from the National Guard and the Michoacán Police, organized in three groups, entered the municipal seat of Aguililla from different itineraries.
As a result, the three main routes in the region were released: Aguililla-El Aguaje, El Aguaje-Los Cajones-El Limón and Coalcomán-Aguililla.
In addition, 185 packages weighing approximately 800 grams each with the characteristics of marijuana and eight kilograms of marijuana were seized, six long weapons, 11 magazines for different weapons, four chests, 1,138 cartridges of different calibers, 23 improvised explosive devices, 21 vehicles (15 of various characteristics, three with handmade armor, one with agency armor, a motorcycle and a tractor) and various tactical equipment.
Likewise, Sedena assured that the rule of law was strengthened in 43 localities located in the municipalities of Aguililla, Buenavista, Coalcomán and Tepalcatepec, Michoacán, as well as the conditions that allow the inhabitants, who had been displaced, to return to their homes and that agricultural products from that area can be harvested and marketed.
“With the presence of military personnel, the National Guard and state authorities in the reference populations, the conditions are created for the strengthening of the rule of law, transitability, social peace and the development of daily activities in the region. ”, the statement read.
The drugs, weapons, vehicles and seized material were placed at the disposal of the competent authority.
It is worth mentioning that, after the entry of the armed forces to Aguililla, Father Gilberto Vergara García, parish priest of the municipality, shared with DEBATE that to this day the panorama in the municipal seat is one of anxiety and even fear among society, Well, they predict a counterattack by the CJNG or opposing criminal groups.
“Right now we see an operation of this size and surely there are expectations, people are afraid, because experience has told us that behind the Armed Forces there is usually the attack of other (armed) groups, as they are boasting and saying themselves to through social media, so all of that is frightening.
Read more: Army and GN deal the first blow to the CJNG in Aguililla
Given the widespread fear of the population, the priest pointed out that the arrival of the elements was something that had been requested for years and clarified that it will not be a fortuitous operation that returns peace to Aguililla, but rather the continuous presence of the Armed Forces.
“The interesting thing would not be to see what happens now with the arrival, but what will happen in the coming months. We need continuity!”, he pointed out.
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