Los Correa, the Newly Identified Cartel in Michoacán With Roots in Illegal Logging – UPDATED

"Parro" and "Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat

Note to readers: The updated portion of this report is in the section titled "More activities".

Site of a checkpoint installed by the Los Correa Cartel on a Michoacan highway last month

Authorities in Michoacán have identified a new drug cartel with roots in illegal logging in the east of the state.

According to a report by the news agency EFE, the Michoacán government last month launched a new security operation supported by the army and National Guard to locate narco-camps and members of a criminal organization called the Los Correa Cartel. All-terrain armored vehicles and helicopters are supporting the operation led by Michoacán state police.

EFE, which obtained information from the Michoacán Security Ministry, said Los Correa has been involved in illegal logging in the state for two decades.

The organization is reportedly led by Daniel Correa Velazquez, known by the alias “El Tigre” (The Tiger). His family’s first foray into the criminal world, according to the EFE report, was illegal logging. In more recent times the cartel has allegedly moved into marijuana cultivation, the production of synthetic drugs, extortion, kidnapping and other criminal activities.

It is currently believed to have an alliance with the Familia Michoacana, a drug cartel that has operated in Michoacán for years. Both organizations are engaged in a conflict with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which is seeking to expand its presence in the state.

Michoacán police and federal security forces have been pursuing Los Correa since at least September last year, making 310 arrests and seizing 81 stolen vehicles and 42 weapons in a six-month period to mid-March. The authorities have also destroyed 43,600 marijuana plants allegedly grown by Los Correa, EFE reported.

In addition, authorities located four narco-camps in forested areas of the municipalities of Zitácuaro and Hidalgo that were used by Los Correa hitmen.

In the latter municipality, state police and federal forces clashed gangsters hiding out at a narco-camp near the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. One cartel sicario was killed in the gunfight and a member of the National Guard was wounded. The authorities arrested three other cartel members and seized vehicles, weapons and 20 kilograms of marijuana.

An alleged chief hitman of the cartel known by the nickname “El Feo” (The Ugly One) was arrested in México state last Thursday on charges that he murdered a Michoacán police commander in late February and wounded another officer.

La Familia Michoacana (LFM) is believed responsible for an ambush the same day that left 17 State of Mexico police officers dead.

More activities

On February 23 of this year, 90 Grados reported that Los Correa Cartel was extorting money from every inhabitant of Ciudad Hidalgo. They reported they were supported by Medardo Hernández Verás, alias Lalo Mantecas or El 100, leader of LFM in this entity and the State of Mexico.

90 Grados reported that Los Correa has made an appearance in the homes of the inhabitants demanding 1,500 pesos per home, to continue their armed struggle in eastern Michoacán. Hitmen from Los Correa visit the communities every week. And from its inhabitants they have demanded 1,500 pesos per house, stating that it is to buy weapons.

At the end of last February an armed criminal cell of 20 hitmen patrolled and installed check points on the Morelia-Ciudad Hidalgo Federal Highway, also known as Morelia-Mil Cumbres Highway.

In the video above (3:17 minute), YouTube channel Grillonautas2 shared the email threat received from Los Correa

The YouTube channel Grillonautas2 received a "legal" threat from someone reportedly working for Los Correa. In an email sent to them, they threatened to take legal action against the channel for releasing information about Los Correa that they said was fake. They said that the information about the extortions and Los Correa's leader were fake.

"Legal action will be taken against this channel and their YouTube channel will be completely erased, including their followers," the email read. "24 hours, if the photo or video has not been erased, legal action will begin against any proprietary material owned by Grillonautas."

In Michoacán there are several cartels that are active: Los Correa, La Nueva Familia Michoacana, Los Viagras, Los Caballeros Templarios, Cartel de Los Reyes, the CJNG, and the Cartel de Tepalcatepec.

In addition, in some regions of this state there are self-defense groups, armed civilians who protect their territory from the onslaught of the cartels, although there are suspicions that some of them also belong to criminal gangs.

Sources: MND; EFE; Grillonautas2; Informa Oriente