RCQ Message ? Badiriguato Burning: Armed Convoy Set Fire to Houses and Vehicles

Translated By Yaqui for Borderland Beat from: Sin Embargo

May 20, 2018
Badiraguato, Sinaloa -  Moments of panic were lived in the community of La Majada de Arriba, after armed men stormed the community and set fire to buildings and parked vehicles.

The group of criminals apparently wanted to send a message to the Sinaloa Cartel that Rafael Caro Quintero currently commands, due to the struggle that exists between the children of the infamous Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, " Los Chapitos " blaming them for the current war against his brother and their uncle identified as "El Guano" Guzmán.

According to reports that unofficially have arisen so far, it was around 5 or 6 am on Friday , May 18 when subjects carrying automatic weapons besieged the  community who abandoned their homes and fled in fear.

A group of armed men broke into the community of La Majada de Arriba, in the Municipality of Badiraguato, Sinaloa, and left  3 houses and  11 cars burned. According to the police report, the subjects asked about the whereabouts of "El Sheriff" or "El Toro".

Due to "the disturbance", the inhabitants of the locality decided to leave. So far, there are no formal complaints, according to the Prosecutor Juan José Ríos Estuvillo. 

According to the reports of the security forces, the attack was recorded at 6:00 am. The armed group, which traveled in at least four units, went to some homes and removed its residents.

Once taken by surprise  in La Majada de Arriba, the gunmen did not let the inhabitants leave their houses, threatening to kill them if they "poked their noses into their business".

Once they had taken over the place, the armed group set fire to several buildings and parked vehicles, shouting slogans  to the inhabitants that they  "would turn up dead if they talked".

Outside of the houses, so far there, there have been no reports of deaths or injuries. The criminals kept the population in distress for more than an hour.

Due to "the disturbance", the inhabitants of the locality decided to leave. 

So far, there are no formal complaints, according to the Prosecutor Juan José Ríos Estuvillo. According to the reports of the security forces, the attack was recorded at 6:00 am. The armed group, which traveled in at least four units, went to some homes and removed its residents.

The men armed with high power rifles asking  for "El Sheriff" or "El Toro", seconds later they started to burn the houses where it is presumed that this person lived.

Subjects who entered the house placed mattresses, clothing and other items to set them on fire. The fire destroyed three motorcycles and four cars and trucks.

Elements of the Municipal and State Police arrived after two hours, reinforced by personnel of the Mexican Army and Military Police.  So far no one has been detained.

"We only have the report of a house that had a report of a fire and some vehicles, that was practically all the information, when it was attended by the staff they have not provided any information", explained the undersecretary of operations of the Ministry of Public Security, Cristóbal Castañeda Camarillo .

"I do not know if they have already filed a complaint about these events, but the first authorities who arrived  did not tell us did not tell us about one ."

Omar Vicente García, Secretary of Public Security of Badiraguato, confirmed the eruption of the armed group:

"Armed group breaks into a village of Badiraguato; burned houses and cars and made families run;

According to my sources,  units arrived with armed people and they blocked the streets to carry out their excesses, there are no signs that there are persons deprived of liberty or executed , ie murdered," he said.

Castañeda Camarillo also ruled out that they have even found shell casings for the use of firearms evidence.

"They are protecting not only that area, but the area from Culiacán to Badiraguato, they are constantly making the trips; We believe that it is an isolated event, but anyway, we will strengthen our presence, we are seeing this also in with the state of Durango, from Culiacán to Tamazula, " Casteneda Camarillo explained.

State Attorney General's Office Files No Complaint:

Prosecutor Juan José Ríos Estavillo said that so far they have received no complaints from people who had damage to their properties in the Majada de Arriba, Badiraguato.

"We are waiting for the participation of the respective complainants, so we invite the affected people to present their respective complaints and to the competent authorities, within the scope of prevention circumscribed in Public Security, to generate the respective reports and if we identify some elements that properly will lead to the participation of the Office of the Prosecutor, we will do so, " said Rios Estavillo.

"So far no complaint has been received,  we are waiting for the conclusion of the intervention of the administrative authorities, but properly for the identification of the jurisdiction of the Prosecutor, in this type of cases, so it corresponds to the damages, the denunciations are necessary, to be able to identify the affectations and the legally protected goods ".