7 reported killed: blockades and violence in jalisco amid rumors of possible El Mencho capture

Lucio R. Borderland Beat-Big thanks to BB readers on the ground sending in information and video special thanks to Valhalla

updates on second page

Amid rumors of the possible capture of   Nemesio Oseguera Ramos (El Mencho), Jalisco has exploded with violence, including shootouts, property torching, and the downing of a military helicopter.

There have been reports of more than 30 narco blockades from Guadalajara, Jalisco to the coast, including Puerto Vallarta.  Other reports are saying the violence has spilled over to Colima and Guanajuato. There are reports of blockades and burning vehicles in the Colima municipalities of Cuauhtemoc, Tecoman and Manzanillo. In Leon, Guanajuato, the Los Darios  and other regional newspapers reported on cars torched on highways.

From the information known at this time, there was a federal operation that began today in Jalisco, “Operation Jalisco”, a federal spokesman said the goal was to “clean up Jalisco and  to arrest all the leaders of this cartel” (they refrain from naming the cartel but it is CJNG).

That set off a wave of violence across the south west half of Jalisco. Confirmed is a total of 7 being killed. The attacks by CJNG included 4 major shootouts, in a highly coordinated effort by the cartel.

 CJNG members have high jacked trucks and buses across Jalisco on the main corridors, and set them ablaze to create the 30 roadblocks (narco blockades) in 20 municipalities.  Fires have been set to dozens of buildings causing a severe shortage of emergency responders. 

Security video from inside bus as it is being torched:

The video above is reported as being in Puerto Vallarta, you can see men tossing accelerant from buckets onto Banorte Bank and setting it afire, as the building to the right burns. 

The state government closed 150  gas stations due to 10 being set afire. 

Although authorities asked citizens to remain inside their homes, many people were travelling on highways due to the three day holiday.

The government did not comment on who they were targeting in the operation but it goes without saying the bulls eye target would be El Mencho, premier leader and founder of CJNG (Cartel Jalisco New Generation).  

Click on image to enlarge map 

CJNG has been a popular topic of reporting in both Mexico and the U.S. as of late, due to their powerful and rapid rise in prominence. A capture of such a powerful capo would be a feather in the cap of President Peña in this election season.  Additionally it would be a retaliation effort stemmed by the ambush last month by CJNG that left 15 state  police killed in the balance.

This much retaliation by organized crime is usually reserved subsequent to significant captures, which is why the rumor of Mencho’s capture is a reasonable assumption.

A BB reader wrote in that Mencho may have been captured in Tonaya, which is 3 hours south of Guadalajara.  The shooting of the helicopter was reported as being 3 hours south of Guadalajara as well. This is speculation; we have not heard anything confirming an arrest of Mencho or anyone else.

UPDATES

It is now 7:30PM, and chances are getting slim that there has been a capture of El Mencho or any other significant figure.  What would have been a major CJNG upheaval by the feds, looks like it was a colossal failure with consequences of; loss of life, injuries, enormous waste of resources, and immense loss of property.

Social media has been commenting for a couple of hours that police knew where Mencho was and attempted to capture him at that location, but that he was able to evade capture by fleeing the area.

Authorities have not weighed in so speculation continues. They have however confirmed the “criminal element” is CJNG. 

 I am grateful for the clarification, it was such a puzzlement.

Quadratin reports that police and political sources say Mencho was captured and the shootout in Tonaya was the result of defensive action by CJNG to prevent the capture, the  helicopter attack was a part of that conflict.  Note: Keep in mind this has not been officially confirmed

Spread into Michoacán

The narco-blockades that occurred in Jalisco spread yesterday afternoon into Michoacán.

Cars were set on fire and on  the Autopista México-Guadalajara (highway) on the Michoacán side .

According to police, armed, masked men were carjacking vehicles to use in the blockades or to incinerate.

The cars were placed in the area that divides the municipalities of Vista Hermosa and Tanhuato, on the border with the municipality of La Barca, Jalisco.

Governor Sandoval 

Just before 7 this evening Aristotle Sandoval, the Governor of Jalisco gave these stats from the violence of today.  No other details were shared.

• 39 Roadblocks
• 25 Municipality involved
• 4 clashes
• 19 arrested
• 7 dead
• 19 wounded including 13 federal forces
• 26 Public transportation routes affected
• 12 Highways affected

Among businesses set afire all with accelerant :

• 10 Banks
• 12 Gas stations
• Scores of buses and atumobiles
• Fire stations (no number reported)
• And other places of business 

He wants it known that all is quiet now and under control.  He also stated the preemptive operation will continue the entire weekend.

Footage from Jalisco