In 5 days, disputes between narcos cost the lives of 13 people in Sonora

Translated by Otis B Fly-Wheel for Borderland Beat from a Proceso article with additional pictures

[ Subject Matter: Sonora, Mantas, Drug traffickers
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required]

Reporter Milton Martinez
The dispute between bands of criminal organisation for control of drug trafficking routes in the North Eastern part of the state has left 13 dead and 4 injured in the last five days.

Moreover, this Tuesday there were two mantas hanging on the principal bridges in the Cities of Hermosillo and Puerto Penasco, with messages that point the finger at those allegedly responsible for the confrontations registered in Imuris and Sonoyta.

The titled Secretary of the Public Security (SSP) of the state, Ernesto Munro Palacio, informs that before the escalation of violence in the Towns of Rio Altar, a natural corridor for drug trafficking and illegal immigrants, he assigned 60 Officers to patrol this zone.




"These are complicated situations between people of criminals organisations. While causing fear and concern among society, its is unwarranted because it is something that happens between criminals. We will do everything necessary to return normality to Sonoyta", he told the media.

According to reports of the State Investigative Police (PEI), the first day of May saw an armed confrontation on the common land known as La Nariz, about 50 kilometres from Sonoyta, with a toll of six dead, two injured and several cars burned.

On Sunday the 3rd, another fire-fight happened in the town of Imuris. Two people were riddled with bullets and two more injured.

One day after, another two males lost their lives in an interchange of gunfire between alleged criminals, in the South-East part of the common land of the Sonoran desert, close to Sonoyta.

And this Tuesday three bodies were localized in the Sierra de Cubabi, of the town of Sonoyta.

" If someone believes that the trafficking of drugs to the United States is going to finish, they are dreaming. The United States in the richest country in the world, the biggest consumer of drugs and at this time the major exporter of arms", said Munro Palacio.

He added, " we are like a sandwich, between the sea, the desert and the United States. We are a transit zone for drugs and illegal immigrants to the United States.

And before the violence belonging to it, in Sonoyta they have cancelled the traditional Festival of the Flowers, by order of the Mayor, Julio Cesar Ramirez, meanwhile the population lock themselves in their homes before another confrontation between armed criminals happens.

Otis: translation of the top manta
To all of the citizens, one informs that the occurrences in days passed in Sonoyta and Penasco they are caused by Aldelmo Nieblas "memo" Los Terrones-Paez and Chapon de la Rosha with the support of the State Governor, he helps in your acts of vandalism.

Original article in Spanish at Proceso