Tepalcatepec, the Battlefield between Self-Defense Groups and CJNG in Michoacán

"Guerrero" for Borderland Beat

The confrontations between the two groups for control of the territory can endanger the harvest of several tons of lemons, sorghum, fruits, vegetables and grains, which could generate losses in the inhabitants. the clashes between the CJNG and the self-defense groups endanger the crops in Tepalcatepec, Michoacán. (Jorge Carballo)

The Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel and the self-defense groups fight every inch of Tepalcatec, Michoacán's land by land and air. The self-defense groups raised a drone to see the position of their rivals entrenched on a hill.

"They are reporting to me that the jotillos out there bring drones so that 08 (alerts) gets well," can be heard on a communication radio frequented by the self-defense groups to detect the conversations of members of the CJNG.

In the war that the self-defense groups and the Jalisco Cartel have been waging for several months, the group led by El Mencho maintains dominance in at least 75 rancherías in Tepalcatepec . A new threat is heard in the scanner: the hitmen warn that they will launch an "RPG" missile against the self-defense groups.

"The Kaibiles have arrived, he affirms, he affirms, I only need the one from the RPG."

The eyes of the self-defense groups are fixed on the sky, the risk of an attack with explosive devices is latent. The atmosphere becomes tense, the self-defense groups hide in a trench dug a few meters from a gorge that reveals the hill where their rivals are hiding.

They decide to lower the drone to minimize risks , in the scanner it is heard again: "look for the fat drones and the skinny drones" those in charge of piloting the drones loaded with explosives of the Jalisco Cartel, on the radio one of the criminals says: "They are in the bathroom, but right now they come with charged batteries. "

The self-defense groups, a group of no more than five people, take advantage of the moment to come down from the hill because they know that they are close to being attacked. Upon reaching the slopes of the hill that adjoins Plaza Vieja, a shocking roar echoes throughout the ranch, a drone launched an explosive device without hitting any target.

Two weeks ago, the inhabitants of the ranches under drug control fled their homes,leaving behind their personal belongings , animals and crops.

Farmers who have tried to return to their land or their homes , are attacked with explosives fired from drones and landmines planted on the premises invaded by criminals.

"We already have two months that we are not going to see what we have sown and right now it is about harvesting, and if not, then we put in this month I think we are going to withdraw from here because we will no longer be able to harvest" said Adán Venga , inhabitant of the town.

Juana Francisca, a former member of the Tepalcatepec self-defense groups, warned that if they did not harvest lemons, sorghum and other grains, fruits and vegetables, by next week at the latest, they would lose close to one billion pesos.

"Look, these are numbers that maybe people will say a lot but they are close to 900 million pesos or more that are at risk of being lost due to this situation that is prevailing in the municipality of Tepalcatepec. It is a municipality, let's say 99 percent agricultural , here are included the losses of cattle, pigs that are lost and that walk around in the loose parcels. "

Some of the affected communities are: Plaza Vieja, La Romera, Carapuato, Primavera, Las Peñitas, Loma Blanca, El Bejuco, Los Horcones, Las Juntas, El Molino, Limonera, Mesas del Terrenate, Los Mojos, Terrenatillo and La Bocanda. In the first, a camp of soldiers was attacked with explosives launched from drones, fortunately no injuries were reported.

Source: HEARST (flagged map from 9/4/2021 BB Report)

In this Google Map, black pins are shared rancheritos, small municipalities with HEARST 9/4/2021 report. Green pins can be ignored due to them being natural sites, red pins are new rancheros mentioned in this latest report (a ways out from 9/4/2021 report).  The blue pin, Tepalcatepec, home of Cartel del Abuelo or Cartel de Tepalcatepac.

Source:  Milenio, HEARST BB - 9/4/2021